Pitru Paksha 2026 Dates and Shraddha Tithi Calendar
Pitru Paksha 2026 runs from Pratipada Shraddha on 27 September through Sarva Pitru Amavasya on 10 October. Use this location-aware planning calendar before confirming the family’s date.
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ॐ पितृभ्यो नमः
Pitru Paksha is a period of remembrance for departed family members. This article offers an India planning calendar for 2026 and explains which details to confirm before arranging a rite. It does not replace a location-specific panchang or guidance from the family pandit.
26 September
Saturday
27 Sep – 10 Oct
Pratipada to Amavasya
10 October
Saturday
These civil dates were checked on 24 August 2026 against the Drik Panchang Shraddha calendar for northern India. Tithi boundaries and suitable local periods depend on the place where the observance will occur. Confirm the local calculation before fixing a time.
Pitru Paksha 2026 planning calendar
Use this table to identify the likely observance date. It deliberately omits generic muhurat times because sunrise, tithi boundaries and Aparahna vary by location.
| Civil date | Shraddha observance | Planning note |
|---|---|---|
| Sat, 26 Sep | Purnima Shraddha | Check the inherited practice for a Purnima death tithi. |
| Sun, 27 Sep | Pratipada Shraddha | Main Krishna Paksha sequence begins. |
| Mon, 28 Sep | Dwitiya Shraddha | Confirm the local tithi boundary. |
| Tue, 29 Sep | Tritiya Shraddha Maha Bharani | Maha Bharani follows the Bharani nakshatra calculation. |
| Wed, 30 Sep | Chaturthi and Panchami Shraddha | Two listed observances share this civil date. |
| Thu, 1 Oct | Shashthi Shraddha | Confirm the local tithi boundary. |
| Fri, 2 Oct | Saptami Shraddha | Confirm the local tithi boundary. |
| Sat, 3 Oct | Ashtami Shraddha | Confirm the local tithi boundary. |
| Sun, 4 Oct | Navami Shraddha | Ask whether any family-specific Navami practice applies. |
| Mon, 5 Oct | Dashami Shraddha | Confirm the local tithi boundary. |
| Tue, 6 Oct | Ekadashi Shraddha | Confirm the local tithi boundary. |
| Wed, 7 Oct | Dwadashi Shraddha Magha | Magha is a separate nakshatra-based observance on this date. |
| Thu, 8 Oct | Trayodashi Shraddha | Confirm the local tithi boundary. |
| Fri, 9 Oct | Chaturdashi Shraddha | Explain any unusual circumstances privately before deciding the procedure. |
| Sat, 10 Oct | Sarva Pitru Amavasya Mahalaya Amavasya | Often considered when the relevant tithi is unknown or was missed; confirm family practice. |
How to identify the relevant date
Families commonly match an annual Shraddha to the lunar tithi of death rather than the recurring English-calendar date. Keep the available facts together and ask for a local calculation when the tithi is uncertain.
If the death tithi is known
Share the tithi and the place where the observance will occur. The local panchang determines the applicable civil date and time window.
If only the civil date is known
Keep the date, approximate time and place of death ready. A competent calendar reader can use those details to identify the likely lunar tithi.
If the tithi remains unknown
Ask whether Sarva Pitru Amavasya or another inherited family practice should be followed. Avoid making the decision from a generic social-media calendar alone.
A useful plan begins with accurate family details, a location-specific calendar and a clear explanation of what is—and is not—being arranged.
Terms families often encounter
These terms are related, but they are not interchangeable. Their exact use and sequence vary by family, region and sampradaya.
Shraddha
A broad term used for ancestral remembrance and associated rites. Ask what the proposed arrangement includes instead of assuming that every Shraddha follows one universal sequence.
Pind Daan
Refers to pinda offerings for the departed. Families may encounter the term in connection with Gaya, Kashi, Prayagraj and other tirthas, but the setting does not by itself define the complete rite.
Tarpan
Refers to water offerings made in an ancestral context. Materials, recitation, eligibility and timing should be confirmed with the person guiding the family.
Asthi Visarjan
Refers to the immersion of cremation ashes and is distinct from an annual Shraddha observance. A family may need different guidance at different stages.
At home or at a tirtha?
The choice depends on the intended rite, inherited practice, health, travel and access. A destination should not be selected because of fear, pressure or an unverified promise of an assured outcome.
At home
Ask whether the relevant annual observance can be conducted at home under the family’s practice, and what preparation or local guidance is genuinely needed.
At a sacred place
Confirm the exact site, local access, travel time, who will participate and what the local arrangement includes before fixing tickets or accommodation.
Gaya, Kashi or Prayagraj
All three cities are associated with ancestral observances, but the practical setting differs. Ask which location matches the family’s purpose rather than ranking one city against another.
Gaya
Vishnupad and the Falgu area are central reference points in Gaya’s ancestral-rite tradition. Confirm temple access, the local sequence and travel arrangements.
Kashi
Kashi offers a Ganga-ghat setting and several kinds of ancestral and post-cremation guidance. State the family’s purpose clearly before choosing a ghat or rite.
Prayagraj
Prayagraj’s Triveni Sangam is used for several remembrance and post-cremation observances. Confirm the intended procedure and meeting point in advance.
Details to keep ready
- Name and relationship of the departed person
- Date, approximate time and place of death
- Lunar death tithi, if already known
- Gotra or family lineage details, if known
- Family or sampradaya practice that should be respected
- Who will participate or take the sankalpa
- Preferred city and realistic travel dates
- Accessibility, language or mobility requirements
Personal guidance
Check the date before making arrangements
Send the details you have. A coordinator can organise them for confirmation and explain the next step. Nothing is booked or paid for through this enquiry.
Common questions
When is Pitru Paksha in 2026?
Purnima Shraddha is listed for 26 September. The main sequence runs from Pratipada Shraddha on 27 September through Sarva Pitru Amavasya on 10 October 2026.
Are exact times the same in every city?
No. Tithi boundaries and local periods depend on the place where the observance occurs. Use a location-specific panchang before fixing a time.
What if the death tithi is not known?
Keep the civil date, time and place of death ready for calculation. If the tithi cannot be established, ask which family practice should be followed rather than relying on a generic answer.
Can the observance be conducted at home?
Many families have a home practice, but the appropriate form varies. Confirm what applies to the family and who will guide it.
Can a family abroad enquire about an arrangement in India?
Yes. Explain where the family is, who can participate and which city is being considered. The applicable procedure should be confirmed before travel or payment.
Does this page replace a family pandit or local panchang?
No. It is a planning reference. The final tithi, timing, eligibility and procedure should be checked for the family and location concerned.
Need to check the date for your family?
Share the tithi or civil date you know, your preferred sacred site and where the family will participate. A coordinator will explain what can be checked next.
Ask about the date