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Pitru Paksha 2026: Dates, Shradh Tithis & Vedic Guidance

Pitru Paksha 2026 runs from 26 September to 10 October. It opens on Bhadrapada Purnima — the tithi begins at 11:07 PM IST on 25 September, so the first shraddha falls on the 26th — and closes on Sarva Pitru Amavasya, 10 October. Your shraddha day is set by the tithi on which the person died, not by the date. That is the one thing families most often get wrong.

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Pitru Paksha 2026 shradh dates: day-by-day tithi table

Quick answer: Pitru Paksha 2026 begins on Saturday 26 September with Purnima Shradh and ends on Saturday 10 October with Sarva Pitru Amavasya. Shradh is offered on the tithi that prevails in aparahna kaal (roughly 1:30 to 4:00 PM), which is why the calendar date can differ from the tithi's start date. The table below is computed with the Swiss Ephemeris for Indian Standard Time.

Perform the shradh on the tithi of the ancestor's death; if the tithi is not known, use Sarva Pitru Amavasya on 10 October. Timings are for India; abroad, use the local time when the same tithi falls in your afternoon. Confirm with your family panchang where a tradition differs.

What you need to know

Pitru Paksha 2026 runs from 26 September to 10 October 2026 (Bhadrapada Purnima to Sarva Pitru Amavasya). It is the fortnight for honouring ancestors through shradh and tarpan. In Vedic astrology this period is checked against the 9th house and Sun-Rahu afflictions for pitru dosha; it is considered inauspicious for weddings, griha pravesh, and major new beginnings, while daan, tarpan, and seva are encouraged.

Pitru Paksha 2026 key dates

Pitru Paksha begins on Purnima Shradh, 26 September 2026 and concludes on Sarva Pitru Amavasya, 10 October 2026. Each tithi within the fortnight corresponds to the lunar day on which an ancestor passed; shradh is traditionally performed on that matching tithi. Sarva Pitru Amavasya covers ancestors whose tithi is unknown — it is the most important single day of the fortnight.

What to do during Pitru Paksha

Recommended: tarpan (water offering) daily or on the relevant tithi, shradh with a qualified priest, feeding brahmins/the needy/cows/crows, reading Bhagavad Gita or Garuda Purana passages, and daan (food, clothes, sesame). Keep the routine sattvik and avoid initiating major ventures. Serving one's living elders is regarded as the highest form of pitru seva.

What to avoid

Traditionally avoided: weddings, engagement, griha pravesh, new-business launch, buying gold or property, and celebratory functions. Routine work continues normally — the fortnight is for remembrance, not fear. If a time-sensitive matter cannot wait, a chart-specific muhurat assessment matters more than a blanket rule.

Pitru dosha: what it actually is

In the birth chart, pitru dosha is read primarily from Sun-Rahu or Sun-Saturn afflictions and the condition of the 9th house/lord. Its classic indications include repeated obstacles, family discord, and delays in progeny or career despite effort. The remedy path is specific to the chart: tarpan during Pitru Paksha, Surya upasana, seva of elders, and daan on Amavasya are commonly prescribed — but an honest reading comes first, because not every difficulty is pitru dosha.

Common Questions

2026 event guides: August Grahan · Pitru Paksha (26 Sep-10 Oct) · Diwali & Lakshmi Puja (8 Nov) · Kartik Purnima (24 Nov)