Pitru Paksha, also known as Shraddha Paksha or Mahalaya Paksha, is 16 days in the Hindu calendar dedicated to paying homage to the ancestors, or Pitrus. It usually falls in the month of Bhadrapada (September–October), starting on the Purnima and ending on the Amavasya. During this time, Hindus do Shraddha, Tarpan and Pind Daan to honour their Pitrus. In the Garuda Purana, during Pitru Paksha, you should do Shraddha, Tarpan and Pind Daan for your ancestors with devotion. You should also worship three trees or plants. This makes your ancestors happy, gives you their blessings and brings peace to their souls.
Pitru Paksha Puja Online
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Pitru Paksha 2026 Date
Here are the important dates of Pitru Paksha 2026 to help you plan rituals and pay respect to ancestors.
- Start Date: 25 August 2026 (Shukla Paksha Purnima)
- End Date: 8 September 2026 (Sarvapitru Amavasya)
Pitru Paksha Puja Vidhi at Home
Pitru Paksha is the sacred time to express gratitude and perform rituals for the peace of departed ancestors. You can easily perform Pitru Paksha Puja at home by following these traditional steps with devotion and sincerity.
Here is the Puja Procedure Step-by-Step,
- Choose the tithi or perform puja on Sarvapitru Amavasya.
- Clean the puja area and spread a clean white or yellow cloth.
- Place photos or symbols of your ancestors and set up a Kalash with water and a coconut.
- Light a diya and incense sticks to begin the puja.
- Offer black sesame seeds (til) and water while chanting Pitru Tarpan Mantras.
- Prepare and offer Pind Daan (rice balls with ghee, til, barley flour).
- Cook and offer satvik food (kheer, puri, dal, rice, pumpkin) to ancestors.
- Chant the mantra “ॐ पितृभ्यः स्वधा नमः” with devotion.
- Give daan (donations) like food, clothes, or money to Brahmins or the poor.
- End the puja with Aarti and distribute prasad among family members.
Things to Keep in Mind During Pitru Paksha Puja
During Pitru Paksha, follow these simple guidelines while doing puja
- Keep your mind and surroundings clean. Eat only pure vegetarian food and avoid meat, onion, garlic and alcohol.
- While praying, think of your ancestors, say their names and ask for their blessings. This makes them happy and brings peace to their souls.
- The northeast corner of the house is best for puja. If not possible, choose any clean and sacred place.
- Along with puja, doing Shraddha and Tarpan is very important, as these are the main rituals of Pitru Paksha
Pitru Paksha Puja Vidhi
Before Pitru Paksha starts, you should arrange unbroken rice (akshat), black sesame seeds, white flowers, barley, and kusa grass for the Tarpan. On the first day of Pitru Paksha, take a bath and wear clean clothes. Keep all the Tarpan materials with you. Then, you should do Tarpan in this order: first for the Gods (Dev Tarpan), then Rishi Tarpan, next Manav Tarpan and finally for your ancestors, Pitru Tarpan.
Pitru Paksha Samagri List
Here is the list of basic samagri required for Pitru Paksha Puja and Shraddha:
- Picture or symbolic representation of ancestors
- Kusha grass (Darbha)
- Black sesame seeds (Til)
- Barley (Jau)
- Akshat (unbroken rice)
- Water, milk, honey, ghee
- White or yellow flowers
- Incense sticks, diya, camphor
- Pind Daan items (rice, flour, ghee, sesame)
- Fruits, sweets, kheer, and cooked food for offering
- New clothes and a towel for Brahmin
- Donation items like food, fruits, and dakshina
Pitru Paksha Meaning
ॐ पितृ देवतायै नम:।
(Om Pitrudevtaay Namah)
Pitru Paksha Mantra Meaning
“I bow to the divine ancestral beings.”
Significance of Pitru Paksha Puja
Pitru Paksha Puja is very important, as it gives peace and salvation to our ancestors. Doing this puja removes Pitru Dosha and brings blessings for health, wealth and success. It also connects us with our family roots and makes the bond between generations stronger. This puja helps in solving problems related to marriage, children and money, bringing happiness and prosperity to the family.
Rituals Performed During Pitru Paksha
The main rituals of Pitru Paksha are performed with devotion to honour ancestors and seek their blessings. These include Shraddha, Tarpan, Pind Daan, Brahmin Bhojan and Daan.
Benefits of Doing Pitru Paksha Puja
Performing Pitru Paksha rituals brings:
- Peace and moksha to the ancestors’ souls
- Relief from Pitru Dosha and family obstacles
- Blessings for health, wealth, and success
- Harmony and unity in the family
- Better spiritual connection with ancestors
Best Places for Pitru Paksha Puja in India
Here are some of the best places in India where you can perform Pitru Paksha Puja.
- Gaya (Bihar) – The most sacred place for Pitru Paksha rituals, especially Pind Daan.
- Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh) – Popular for Shraddha and Tarpan Puja.
- Haridwar & Prayagraj (Uttar Pradesh) – Ganga puja for ancestor peace.
- Rameswaram (Tamil Nadu) – Special Shraddha pujas near sea shores.
- Nashik & Trimbakeshwar (Maharashtra) – Known for Pitru Dosha Nivaran Puja.
- Gokarna (Karnataka) – Famous for Moksha rituals.
