Pitru Paksha 2026 Dates: Shradh Start Date, End Date and Full Tithi List
Sixteen tithis, fifteen days, one window each year to settle what your lineage still carries. Every Shradh 2026 date, and what to actually do on each.
The Pitru Paksha 2026 date range is the annual window to heal your connection with your lineage, running from 26 September to 10 October. Unexplained financial blocks or a constant heaviness in life can sometimes stem from our roots; Vedic tradition suggests we carry both blessings and unresolved karma from those who came before us. These Shradh 2026 dates, a fortnight of 16 tithis across 15 days, offer a chance to express gratitude, clear unseen hurdles, and unlock peace for your family.
Pitru Paksha 2026 date: Saturday, 26 September to Saturday, 10 October 2026. Below is the complete Pitru Paksha 2026 calendar in English, with every date and tithi.
This guide gives you the exact Pitru Paksha 2026 date, the full Shradh list 2026 tithi by tithi, and a clear answer to what to do in Pitru Paksha, whether you can travel to a sacred site or need to arrange it from wherever you are.
What Is Pitru Paksha?
Pitru Paksha (sometimes written Pitrupaksha as one word) means "the fortnight of the ancestors." Pitru refers to departed forefathers and Paksha means a lunar fortnight. Together, the term describes a period on the Hindu calendar set aside to honour ancestors up to three generations back, through rituals known as Shradh, or Pitru Paksha Shraddha in its formal spelling. In Marathi the fortnight is called Pitru Pandharwada, and in Maharashtra that is the name most families use; in parts of north India it is Kanagat.
The fortnight begins on the full moon (Purnima) of Bhadrapada and ends on the new moon of Ashwin, called Sarva Pitru Amavasya. Vedic tradition holds that ancestral souls draw closer to the living world during these days, and that food, water and prayer offered now reach them directly.
Left unaddressed, this ancestral debt, Pitru Rin, is believed to sit quietly behind some of life's more stubborn patterns: delays in marriage, financial strain, or a lingering sense that nothing quite settles. Pitru Paksha exists to clear it, and a Pitru Tarpan with til (sesame) at the Somnath Jyotirlinga Teerth, is one of the more direct ways families address it.
Pitru Paksha 2026 Dates at a Glance: Shradh Start Date and End Date
- Begins
- 26 SeptSaturday · Purnima Shradh
- Main fortnight
- 27 SeptSunday · Pratipada
- Ends
- 10 OctSaturday · Sarva Pitru Amavasya
- Total Shradh period 2026
- 16 tithis15 calendar days
The Shradh start date 2026 is 26 September (Saturday), Purnima Shradh; the first tithi Shradh of the main fortnight, Pratipada, is 27 September. The Shradh end date 2026, which is also the last day of Shradh 2026, falls on 10 October (Saturday), the Sarva Pitru Amavasya 2026 date, also called Mahalaya Amavasya or Pitru Moksha Amavasya. These are the confirmed dates across major panchangs, and it is the same Pitru Paksha last date 2026 for every family. They apply across India, whether you are in Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand or Gujarat, because Shradh follows the lunar tithi, not a regional calendar; only the muhurat timing shifts by city.
Booking a Pitru Paksha Puja
If you would rather have the rites handled for you, Ekishwar arranges Tripindi Shraddh at Pishach Mochan Kund, Varanasi, covering three generations of ancestors with sankalp in your family's name.
Performed on your behalfKashi Kund Tripindi Shraddh Purvaj Rin Shanti AnushthanTripindi Shraddh for three generations of ancestors, with sankalp in your family's name.Pishach Mochan Kund, VaranasiBook this puja
Complete Shradh List 2026: Tithi-by-Tithi Calendar
Shradh is traditionally performed on the tithi that matches the date your ancestor passed away, not a fixed English date. Use this complete list of Shradh 2026, also searched as the 2026 Shradh list or Shradh tithi list, to find your day in the full Pitru Paksha 2026 calendar.
Learn more: why do some tithis share a date?
This is called tithi kshaya, a lunar tithi that begins and ends within a single sunrise-to-sunrise window without ever being the tithi active at sunrise. Panchangs then combine its Shradh with the tithi before or after.
Calculations vary slightly by panchang, so a date may shift by a day depending on the source. Confirm the combined day with your purohit if your family follows a specific tradition.
| Date | Day | Tithi | Shraddha observed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 26 Sept | Saturday | Purnimaपूर्णिमा | Purnima Shradh, for those who passed on a full moon. Fortnight begins. |
| 27 Sept | Sunday | Pratipadaप्रतिपदा | Pratipada Shradh, the first tithi of the main fortnight |
| 28 Sept | Monday | Dwitiyaद्वितीया | Dwitiya Shradh |
| 29 Sept | Tuesday | Tritiyaतृतीया | Tritiya Shradh (also Maha Bharani, a separately significant day this year) |
| 30 Sept | Wednesday | Chaturthi + Panchamiचतुर्थी · पंचमी | Chaturthi Shradh and Panchami Shradh, observed together |
| 1 Oct | Thursday | Shashthiषष्ठी | Shashthi Shradh |
| 2 Oct | Friday | Saptamiसप्तमी | Saptami Shradh |
| 3 Oct | Saturday | Ashtamiअष्टमी | Ashtami Shradh |
| 4 Oct | Sunday | Navamiनवमी | Navami Shradh, also called Matri Navami, kept for mothers and married women of the family |
| 5 Oct | Monday | Dashamiदशमी | Dashami Shradh |
| 6 Oct | Tuesday | Ekadashiएकादशी | Ekadashi Shradh |
| 7 Oct | Wednesday | Dwadashiद्वादशी | Dwadashi Shradh, traditionally for ancestors who had taken sanyas |
| 8 Oct | Thursday | Trayodashiत्रयोदशी | Trayodashi Shradh |
| 9 Oct | Friday | Chaturdashiचतुर्दशी | Chaturdashi Shradh (Chaudas), traditionally kept for those who died an untimely or accidental death |
| 10 Oct | Saturday | Amavasyaअमावस्या | Sarva Pitru Amavasya, for all ancestors. Fortnight ends. |
Key Shradh Days People Search For
- Pitru Paksha Chaturthi 2026: 30 September, observed together with Panchami
- Pitru Paksha Saptami 2026: 2 October
- 9th Shradh 2026 (Navami, Matri Navami): 4 October
- Pitru Paksha Ekadashi 2026: 6 October
- Pitru Paksha Trayodashi 2026: 8 October
- Chaudas Shradh 2026 (Chaturdashi): 9 October
- Pitru Paksha last date 2026 (Sarva Pitru Amavasya): 10 October
Chaturdashi, the Chaudas Shradh, is worth noting separately. It is kept for ancestors who died an untimely or accidental death, and this is traditionally considered a more delicate rite. Ekishwar's Narayan Nagbali ritual at Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlinga is built specifically for this, and is usually better handled with an experienced pandit than attempted alone at home.
For untimely or accidental deathsNarayan Nagbali Puja (Pitra dosh Puja)A three-day rite prescribed for Chaturdashi ancestors, performed by experienced pandits at the Jyotirlinga.Shri Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlinga Teerth, NashikBook this puja
Sarva Pitru Amavasya 2026: The Last Day of Shradh
Many searches use the term Pitru Paksha Amavasya, but the correct name is Sarva Pitru Amavasya, and it falls on 10 October 2026. It is also known as Mahalaya Amavasya, and is sometimes searched as Pitru Moksha Amavasya 2026 or Pitra Moksha Amavasya 2026. It is the final and most significant day of the fortnight, and Shradh performed here is considered valid for every ancestor, regardless of the tithi on which they actually passed away.
This makes it the day for:
- Families who do not know the exact tithi of an ancestor's death
- Anyone who missed their designated Shradh day earlier in the fortnight
- Collective remembrance of all forefathers together, known and unknown
It is also the day most closely tied to Tripindi Shradh, a rite performed for three generations of ancestors at once, aimed at clearing Purvaj Rin, or ancestral debt. Ekishwar's Kashi Kund Tripindi Shraddh is built around exactly this, performed at Pishach Mochan Kund in Varanasi.
Three generations, one riteKashi Kund Tripindi Shraddh Purvaj Rin Shanti AnushthanThe Sarva Pitru Amavasya rite for families who want every ancestor, known and unknown, covered together.Pishach Mochan Kund, VaranasiBook this puja
Because of all this, Sarva Pitru Amavasya remains the busiest day at pilgrimage sites like Gaya, Varanasi and Prayagraj, and the most searched date of the entire fortnight.
What to Do During Pitru Paksha: A Quick Reference
If you are wondering what to do in Pitru Paksha this year, the core rituals are simpler than they first appear.
- Tarpanतर्पण
Water mixed with black sesame seeds and kusha grass, offered to the ancestors, usually facing south.
- Pind Daanपिण्ड दान
Rice balls (pinda) offered to help the soul attain peace, often performed at a sacred site such as Gaya's Vishnupad temple and the Falgu ghat.
- Shradhश्राद्ध
The full ceremonial offering of food, prayer and rites, performed on the ancestor's specific tithi.
- Brahmin Bhoj and charityब्राह्मण भोज
Feeding Brahmins or those in need, and donating food, clothes or money in the ancestor's name. The offering is believed to reach the ancestors through this act.
- Feeding crows, cows and dogsकाक बलि
Before the family eats, a small portion of food is set aside for crows, cows and dogs. Crows are traditionally seen as messengers who carry the offering to the departed. Cows and dogs are honoured for the same reason, as beings believed to be especially receptive to a household's ancestral energy.
This is one of the simplest rituals of Pitru Paksha, and also one of the easiest to lose once families move to cities with little access to animals to feed.
Rules and Observances During Pitru Paksha
Generally avoided
- Starting new ventures, signing major contracts, or big purchases such as property or vehicles
- Weddings, housewarmings and other celebratory functions
- Non-vegetarian food and alcohol, particularly on the day of the family's Shradh
- Haircuts, shaving and buying new clothes (this varies by region and family)
- Loud celebrations or festive decoration at home
Generally encouraged
- A simple, sattvic (pure vegetarian) diet
- Quiet, respectful conduct at home
- Daily offerings to crows before the family's own meal
- Charity, particularly food donation, considered especially powerful during this period
Honouring Your Ancestors, Wherever You Are
Pitru Paksha is ultimately about closing a loop: thanking those who came before us and clearing whatever weight has quietly carried forward. Not everyone can stand on the ghats of Kashi or Haridwar this October, and that gap is exactly what Ekishwar was built to close. From a Tripindi Shraddh in Varanasi to Pind Daan on the Ganga at Rishikesh, the rituals in this guide can be arranged with verified pandits on your behalf, wherever you are this Pitru Paksha 2026.
Arrange your family's Shradh with a verified pandit
Kashi Kund Tripindi Shraddh Purvaj Rin Shanti AnushthanVaranasi · Sarva Pitru Amavasya
Amavasya-Purnima Pind Daan - Purvaj Kripa VisheshRishikesh · Pind Daan on the Ganga
Pitru TarpanSomnath · Pitru TarpanPujas for you
Swipe · 4 pujas- Pitru TarpanShri Somnath Jyotirlinga Teerth, Prabhas PatanBook now
- Narayan Nagbali Puja (Pitra dosh Puja)Shri Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlinga Teerth, NashikBook now
- Kashi Kund Tripindi Shraddh Purvaj Rin Shanti AnushthanPishach Mochan Kund, VaranasiBook now
- Amavasya-Purnima Pind Daan - Purvaj Kripa VisheshNamami Gange Ghat, Rishikesh, UttarakhandBook now
Frequently asked questions
- What is Pitru Paksha?
- Pitru Paksha is a fortnight of 16 tithis across 15 days in the Hindu lunar calendar dedicated to honouring departed ancestors through Shradh rituals. In 2026 it runs from 26 September to 10 October.
- What does Pitru Paksha mean?
- Pitru Paksha means "the fortnight of the ancestors," combining Pitru (forefathers) and Paksha (a lunar fortnight).
- Pitru Paksha kya hota hai?
- In simple terms, Pitru Paksha is the time each year when Hindu families formally remember their ancestors, through Tarpan, Pind Daan and Shradh, performed on the tithi matching the ancestor's date of passing.
- What is the Shradh start and end date in 2026?
- Shradh 2026 starts on Saturday, 26 September with Purnima Shradh; the first tithi of the main fortnight, Pratipada, is Sunday, 27 September. It ends on Saturday, 10 October with Sarva Pitru Amavasya, also called Mahalaya Amavasya. The full period covers 16 tithis across 15 calendar days.
- When does Pitru Paksha end in 2026?
- Pitru Paksha 2026 ends on Saturday, 10 October, the Sarva Pitru Amavasya. It is the last day of Shradh and the day on which Shradh may be performed for all ancestors together. Sharad Navratri begins the next day, 11 October.
- What is the complete Shradh list for 2026?
- The complete Shradh list for 2026: Purnima Shradh (26 Sept), Pratipada (27 Sept), Dwitiya (28 Sept), Tritiya (29 Sept), Chaturthi and Panchami (30 Sept), Shashthi (1 Oct), Saptami (2 Oct), Ashtami (3 Oct), Navami (4 Oct), Dashami (5 Oct), Ekadashi (6 Oct), Dwadashi (7 Oct), Trayodashi (8 Oct), Chaturdashi (9 Oct), Sarva Pitru Amavasya (10 Oct).
- When is Sarva Pitru Amavasya in 2026?
- Saturday, 10 October 2026. It is the last day of Pitru Paksha and is valid for the Shradh of all ancestors, regardless of their actual tithi of death.
- When is Pitru Moksha Amavasya in 2026?
- Pitru Moksha Amavasya (also written Pitra Moksha Amavasya, and the same day as Sarva Pitru Amavasya and Mahalaya Amavasya) falls on Saturday, 10 October 2026. It is the last and most important day of Pitru Paksha, when Shradh can be performed for all ancestors regardless of their specific death tithi.
- What is Pitru Paksha Navami 2026?
- Navami Shradh, also called Matri Navami, falls on Sunday, 4 October 2026. It is the ninth tithi of the fortnight, traditionally kept for mothers and the married women of the family, and is also searched as the 9th Shradh 2026.
- What is Pitru Paksha 2026 in Maharashtra called?
- In Maharashtra the fortnight is called Pitru Pandharwada, the Marathi name for the same period. Pitru Paksha 2026 in Maharashtra runs on the same national dates, 26 September to 10 October, because Shradh follows the lunar tithi rather than a regional calendar; only the muhurat timing shifts by city.
- What is Pitru Paksha Shraddha?
- Shraddha, commonly written Shradh, is the ceremonial ritual performed to honour a specific ancestor. It typically includes Tarpan, Pind Daan and feeding Brahmins, and is performed on the ancestor's matching lunar tithi during Pitru Paksha.
- What are the Shradh 2026 rules I should follow?
- Avoid new ventures, celebrations, non-vegetarian food and haircuts during the fortnight. Keep a simple diet, stay quiet at home, and feed crows daily before your own meal.
- Why do we feed crows during Pitru Paksha?
- Crows are traditionally believed to carry the offering directly to the departed, so feeding them each day is seen as ensuring the ancestors receive it.
- What if I do not know my ancestor's tithi?
- Perform the Shradh on Sarva Pitru Amavasya, 10 October 2026, which is accepted for all ancestors regardless of their individual tithi.
- Can these rituals be performed without travelling to India?
- Yes. Ekishwar's priest-led services, from Tripindi Shraddh at Pishach Mochan Kund to individual rituals at Trimbakeshwar and Har Ki Pauri, can be arranged on your behalf, wherever you are.
- Pitru Paksha 2026
- Shradh 2026 dates
- Shradh list 2026
- Sarva Pitru Amavasya
- Pitru Moksha Amavasya
- Mahalaya Amavasya
- Tarpan
- Pind Daan
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