Bhadrapada Purnima → Sarva Pitru Amavasya · Shraddha · Tarpan · Pind Daan
Pitru Paksha — the “fortnight of the ancestors” — is a period in the Hindu lunar calendar when families remember and honour their departed elders through Shraddha, Tarpan, Pind Daan, prayer, food offerings and charity. It is an observance period, not a single-day festival: each family usually performs Shraddha on the lunar tithi that corresponds to an ancestor’s passing, according to its own tradition.
Panchang data unavailable—please verify with your local Panchang. · New Delhi, India
Dates and ritual rules vary by region, lunar calendar convention (Purnimanta/Amanta) and family tradition.
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A diya and flowers in a calm, respectful remembrance setting — verified image awaiting upload
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Ancestral remembrance
पितृ स्मरण
An observance period, not a single day. Each family usually performs Shraddha on the tithi that matches an ancestor’s passing; not every family performs it on Amavasya. Remembrance is an act of love — nobody should feel fear or guilt.
Panchang · New Delhi, India · Asia/Kolkata
Panchang data unavailable—please verify with your local Panchang.
No verified per-tithi timings available.
Panchang data unavailable—please verify with your local Panchang. No verified upcoming occurrence is available. Automatic Panchang synchronization is not connected; consult your local Panchang.
The shared verified calendar reads the rolling current year plus nine years. No licensed Panchang provider is connected, so missing dates, tithi boundaries, Kutup, Rohina, Aparahna, sunrise and sunset are never estimated. New Delhi is the reference location; city selection is not currently available.
Find the death tithi
Shraddha follows the lunar tithi of the ancestor’s passing — not the Gregorian date. If your family records the tithi (for example Krishna Panchami), perform Shraddha on that tithi within Pitru Paksha.
Purnima Shraddha
For ancestors who passed on a Purnima, many traditions perform Shraddha on Bhadrapada Purnima, at the start of the period.
Sarva Pitru Amavasya
The concluding Amavasya is traditionally observed for all ancestors, and especially when the exact tithi is unknown or the tithi day was missed.
When a tithi spans two days
Panchangs generally assign Shraddha to the day on which the tithi prevails during Aparahna (afternoon). This is why a local Panchang for your city matters — the date can shift by a day between locations.
Regional and family exceptions
Some traditions keep special days (for example particular tithis for specific relationships or circumstances). These vary; follow your family custom or consult a knowledgeable priest rather than relying on a general rule.
श्राद्ध विधि
Common household practices are listed. Priest-led rites and regional procedures differ; no mantras or compulsory steps are prescribed here — follow your family tradition or a knowledgeable priest.
Use your family’s records and a reliable local Panchang to find the tithi that applies to your ancestor within Pitru Paksha.
Clean the area where the rite will be performed. Many families use a simple cloth, a quiet corner and minimal decoration.
Arrange the items customary in your family — see the checklist below. Not every household uses every item.
Bathe, wear clean clothes and, if your custom includes it, make a sankalp (statement of intent) naming the ancestor. The words used vary; follow your family or priest.
Water, often mixed with black sesame, is offered respectfully in memory of the ancestors. The hand position, direction faced and sequence differ by tradition; a priest can guide you.
In families that perform it, pindas of cooked rice or other grain are prepared and offered. This is usually priest-led, and some households do not perform it at home.
These materials appear in many Shraddha practices as traditional symbols of purity and offering. Use them only as your tradition prescribes.
A simple sattvic meal is often prepared and offered first, then served to invited Brahmins, guests, relatives or people in need according to family custom. Portions are commonly set aside for crows, cows or dogs in many regions.
Many families give food, clothing or other help in memory of the ancestor. Choose what is meaningful and within your means.
Close with prayer or a moment of silent remembrance, then tidy the space and handle offerings respectfully.
श्राद्ध सामग्री सूची
Tick items as you prepare; progress is saved on this device. Not every household needs every item — labels show which are optional, priest-specific or regional.
0 of 14 items prepared14 में से 0 सामग्री तैयार
Items depend on family, region and the chosen puja; optional items are not universal requirements. · सामग्री परिवार, क्षेत्र और चुनी हुई पूजा अनुसार बदलती है।
भोजन, अर्पण और दान
Households often prepare simple sattvic food — kheer, rice, dal, seasonal vegetables and puris are widely mentioned — but menus vary by region. Many families avoid onion and garlic for the meal; this is a customary practice, not universal.
Tradition sees feeding others as an act of remembrance and gratitude. It is described as meaningful service, not as a transaction that guarantees any particular outcome.
Cook in a clean kitchen, keep cooked food covered, avoid leaving perishable offerings out in heat for long, and serve guests promptly. Respect allergies and dietary needs of those you feed.
Lighting a lamp, a quiet prayer, sharing a meal in a loved one’s memory, helping a vulnerable person or donating to a cause they cared about are respectful ways to remember. Many families value these sincerely; some traditions still regard specific rites as distinct, so consult your family or priest if that matters to you.
मार्गदर्शन
Check family records, ask elders, or look up the tithi corresponding to the date of death in a Panchang for the place where your family follows its calendar.
Tithi start and end times depend on location. Aparahna, Kutup and Rohina are calculated from local sunrise and sunset, so a city-specific Panchang avoids picking the wrong day.
Purnimanta and Amanta calendars name the month differently; communities also differ in rituals, food and who performs the rites. No single procedure is universal.
Pind Daan, Tarpan with mantras, rites for specific circumstances, and questions about who should perform the Shraddha are best discussed with a knowledgeable priest or your family’s established tradition.
Traditionally, Shraddha for ancestors whose tithi is unknown is performed on Sarva Pitru Amavasya, the last day of the fortnight.
Prayer, gratitude, sharing family stories and service to others are sincere ways to honour ancestors when resources, health or circumstances do not allow a full ritual.
Remembrance is an act of love. You do not need to feel fear or guilt about doing what you can. Claims that ancestors will curse or harm a family are not part of the respectful guidance on this page.
बारह राशि मार्गदर्शन
Traditional spiritual or astrological reflection, not scientific prediction. A Rashi does not indicate ancestral displeasure, curses or any future outcome.
क्या करें, क्या न करें
Keep offerings clean and covered; do not step over or discard them carelessly.
Refrigerate or distribute leftovers promptly. Many families give remaining food to people or animals; dispose of spoiled food hygienically.
Keep diyas and incense away from cloth, curtains and children; never leave flames unattended; ensure ventilation.
Use only as much water as needed. Avoid putting plastic, foil or synthetic items into rivers or ponds; compost flowers and leaves where possible. Be careful near water bodies and avoid unsafe ghats.
Relatives may follow different customs. Discuss calmly rather than insisting one way is the only correct one.
Nobody should be pressured, shamed or frightened into rituals or payments. Be wary of anyone claiming that skipping a rite will bring curses or misfortune.
Practices such as avoiding certain foods, haircuts or new purchases during the fortnight are traditional customs in some communities. They are matters of faith, not medical or scientific facts. Anyone with health needs should eat appropriately.
The Karna narrative is a traditional devotional account with varying retellings. No dates, mantras, scriptural quotations or timings have been invented on this page.
