🙏 Pitru Paksha (Dwitiya Shraddha) - पितृ पक्ष (द्वितीय श्राद्ध)

Pitru Paksha Calendar 2026
Saturday, 26 September 2026: Purnima Shraddha
Sunday, 27 September 2026: Pratipada Shraddha / Padwa Shraddha | Pitru Paksha begins
Monday, 28 September 2026: Dwitiya Shraddha
Tuesday, 29 September 2026: Tritiya Shraddha / Maha Bharani
Wednesday, 30 September 2026: Chaturthi Shraddha / Panchami Shraddha
Thursday, 1 October 2026: Shashthi Shraddha
Friday, 2 October 2026: Saptami Shraddha
Saturday, 3 October 2026: Ashtami Shraddha | Jitiya
Sunday, 4 October 2026: Navami Shraddha | Matra Navami
Monday, 5 October 2026: Dashami Shraddha
Tuesday, 6 October 2026: Ekadashi Shraddha
Wednesday, 7 October 2026: Dwadashi Shraddha | Magha Shraddha
Thursday, 8 October 2026: Trayodashi Shraddha
Friday, 9 October 2026: Chaturdashi / Chaudas Shraddha
Saturday, 10 October 2026: Sarva Pitru Amavasya | Mahalaya Pitru Paksha Samapan

An episode of Shraddha follows from the era of Mahabharata, after the end of the war between the Kaurava-Pandavas, when all was over, Danveer Karna reached heaven after his death. Gold, silver and ornaments were served in place of food. At this, he asked Indra, the devta of swarg, the reason for this.

Indra dev told Karna that throughout his life he donated only gold, silver and diamonds, but never donated any food in the name of his ancestors. Karna replied that he had no knowledge about his ancestors, so he was unable to do so.

Then, Indra advised Karna to return to Earth, where he donated food and offered his ancestors during these sixteen days. And thus Danveer Karna free from Pitru Rinn.

पूर्णिमा
प्रोष्ठपदी/पूर्णिमा का श्राद्ध

All the rest are as per Shradh date
प्रतिपदा श्राद्ध, द्वितीया श्राद्ध, तृतीया श्राद्ध, चतुर्थी श्राद्ध, पंचमी श्राद्ध, षष्ठी श्राद्ध, सप्तमी श्राद्ध, अष्टमी श्राद्ध, नवमी श्राद्ध, दशमी श्राद्ध, एकादशी श्राद्ध, त्रयोदशी श्राद्ध

द्वादशी
सन्यासियों का श्राद्ध

चतुर्दशी
चतुर्दशी तिथि के दिन शस्त्र, विष, दुर्घटना से मृतों का श्राद्ध होता है चाहे उनकी मृत्यु किसी अन्य तिथि में हुई हो।

अमावस
अमावस का श्राद्ध, अज्ञात तिथि वालों का श्राद्ध, सर्वपितृ श्राद्ध।

The dedication of Tarpan, Pind and Daan (donation) in the name of ancestors is called Shraddha. According to the belief, when the sun enters Kanyarashi, the ancestors come from parlok to stay with their grandchildren, hence it is also called Kanagat.

Pind Daan or Shraddha Karma can be performed every month’s Amavasya for the peace of the ancestors, but Pitru Paksha is considered more important for Shraddha.

How to worship ancestors in the ancestral side?
If you remember the death day/date of your ancestor or deceased member of the family, you should pay obeisance on the same date falling on the ancestral side. If the date of death is not known, shraddha can be performed on the day of Sarvapriti Amavasya, which is also known as Mahalaya Amavasya. If there is a premature death due to an accident or self-immolation etc., then Shraddha is performed on Chaturdashi Tithi.

The law has been told to perform Shraddha for three generations. Every year, Yamraj frees all the living beings in the Shraddha Paksha, so that he can go to his kith and accept the tarpan. In the three ancestors, the father is considered like Vasu, Rudra Devta is considered as grandfather and Aditya Devata is considered as great grandfather. It is considered representative of all other ancestors at the time of Shraddh.

According to Hindu mythology, there are some important places in India that are famous for performing Shraddha rituals for the peace and happiness of the departed souls.
Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh
Prayaga (Allahabad), Uttar Pradesh
Gaya, Bihar
Kedarnath, Uttarakhand
Badrinath, Uttarakhand
Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu
Nashik, Maharashtra
Kapal Mochan Sarovar, Yamuna Nagar, Haryana

The last day of Pitru Paksha is known as Sarvapitru Amavasya or Mahalaya Amavasya. Mahalaya Amavasya is the most important day of Pitru Paksha. People who do not know the exact date/day of their ancestors' death, remember this day by dedicating sradhanjali and bhojan to them.

Bharani Shraddha is a very important day during Pitru Paksha and is also known as Mahabharani Shraddha. In Bharani Shraddha, worship is done for the peace of the souls of our ancestors. People who are unable to undertake any pilgrimage in their entire life. After the death of such people, Bharani Shraddha is performed so that they get the results of the Shraddha performed at the pilgrimages like Matrigaya, Pitru Gaya, Pushkar Tirtha and Badri Kedar etc.

Bharani Shraddha is performed on Bharani Nakshatra of Pitru Paksha. Bharani Shraddha is not performed in the first year of someone`s death because the soul of the dead person remains alive till the first annual Varsha Shraddha is performed. But after the first year, Bharani Shraddha must be performed.

Rituals during Bharani Shraddha:
❀ According to the sacred scriptures, Bharani Shraddha is suggested to be performed at holy places like Gaya, Kasi, Prayag, Rameshwaram etc.
❀ The auspicious time to perform Bharani Shraddha is Kutap Muhurta and Rohina Adi Muhurta, after that till the afternoon festival ends. Tarpan is done at the end of Shraddha.
❀ On Bharani Shraddha, crows should also be fed food, as they are considered messengers of Bhagwan Yamraj. Apart from crow, dog and cow are also fed.
❀ It is believed that performing the Bharani Shraddha ritual religiously and with full devotion brings peace to the liberated soul and they in turn provide peace, security and prosperity to their descendants.

Importance of Bharani Shraddha:
It has been said that the qualities of Bharani Shraddha are similar to Gaya Shraddha, hence it should not be neglected at all. This day is most celebrated during the Pitru Shraddha rituals, after Mahalaya Amavasya.

During Pitru Paksha, when the Magha Nakshatra predominates in the afternoon (after noon), Shraddha performed on that day is called Magha Shraddha. Religious beliefs consider Magha Nakshatra to be associated with ancestors, so performing Tarpan, Pind Daan, and Shraddha rituals during this Nakshatra is considered especially fruitful. It is believed that the devotional acts performed through Magha Shraddha satisfy the ancestors and their blessings remain with the family.

Significance of Magha Shraddha:
◉ It is believed that performing Tarpan, Pind Daan, or donation on this day brings direct and quick satisfaction to the souls of ancestors.
◉ Even if one does not remember the exact date of death of an ancestor, performing Shraddha during Magha Nakshatra is considered extremely auspicious and fruitful.
◉ Performing Shraddha on this day brings happiness and peace to the home and removes Pitru Dosh from the horoscope.