Dwitiya Shradh is the second day of Pitrupaksha, falling on Monday, September 28, 2026. Known also as Dooj Shradh, this day carries a unique spiritual significance — it is dedicated to the souls of those who departed on Dwitiya Tithi (the second lunar day) of any paksha throughout the year, and it holds a special place for ancestral rites connected to family prosperity and the fulfilment of ancestral desires. The Dwitiya of Pitrupaksha, falling in the waxing darkness of the Krishna Paksha, is considered particularly auspicious because the ancestors are believed to be at their most receptive — having arrived from Pitru Loka on Purnima and settled into the earthly plane by this second day.
What Is Dwitiya Shradh?
Dwitiya (द्वितीया) is the second day of each lunar fortnight. Dwitiya Shradh during Pitrupaksha is performed specifically for ancestors who passed away on either Shukla Dwitiya or Krishna Dwitiya of any month. In folk tradition, it is called Dooj Shradh — a name that resonates with the more widely known Bhai Dooj, the fraternal bond festival celebrated on the same lunar date in Kartika month.
This convergence is not coincidental. In Vedic tradition, Dwitiya has a strong association with relationships — particularly the bond between siblings and between a parent and their firstborn child. The Matsya Purana notes that Dwitiya Shradh is especially recommended for:
- The souls of ancestors who had an unfulfilled desire to see family bonds flourish
- The souls of older brothers, uncles, or elder relatives who acted as protectors of the family
- Ancestors who died while young or in the prime of their lives
There is also a practical dimension to Dwitiya Shradh: it is the day when the ancestral rites of the Bhratru Paksha (the lineage of brothers and male relatives) are traditionally performed. In large joint families, Dwitiya Shradh is often the day when uncles, great-uncles, and collateral male ancestors are remembered alongside the direct paternal line.
The sacred number “two” (dwi) carries cosmic significance in Hindu philosophy — the duality of creation, the union of Prakriti and Purusha, and the interplay of light and shadow. Performing Shradh on Dwitiya is believed to honour the principle of relatedness itself — the invisible threads that connect the living to all who came before them.
Dwitiya Shradh 2026: Date and Muhurat
In 2026, Ashwina Krishna Dwitiya falls on Monday, September 28, 2026 — Day 2 of Pitrupaksha.
Auspicious Muhurats for Dwitiya Shradh 2026 (approx. for North India):
- Kutup Muhurat: 11:44 AM – 12:31 PM (highest merit; first priority)
- Rohina Muhurat: 12:31 PM – 1:17 PM (very auspicious)
- Aparahna Kala: 1:17 PM – 3:36 PM (valid extended window)
The Dwitiya Tithi begins after Pratipada ends on the morning of September 28 and prevails through the afternoon, making September 28 the correct day for the rite. Monday holds additional auspiciousness for Pitru rites — it is the day of Chandra (Moon), and the Moon governs the ancestral realm (Pitru Loka) in Vedic astrology. Performing Dwitiya Shradh on a Monday amplifies the connection between the performer and their ancestors.
Those travelling to Prayagraj for Dwitiya Shradh should plan to reach Triveni Sangam by 10:30 AM to complete the ritual bath and preparations before the Kutup Muhurat opens. For tithi and muhurat verification, the DrikPanchang Pitrupaksha calendar is a reliable reference.
Who Should Perform Shradh on Dwitiya?
The Dharmasindhu prescribes Dwitiya Shradh for:
- Those whose ancestors departed on Dwitiya Tithi (Shukla or Krishna Dwitiya of any month)
- Those honouring elder brothers or paternal uncles (Tau, Chacha) who have passed — the sibling and uncle relationship is particularly associated with Dwitiya
- Those whose paternal ancestors died young — Dwitiya Shradh includes special mantras for ancestors who departed in youth or childhood, ensuring even the youngest departed souls are honoured
- Those performing Shradh for step-relatives — step-parents, half-siblings, and adopted family members who have passed are traditionally included in Dwitiya Shradh
A family where several male ancestors have passed — grandfathers, great-uncles, older brothers — will find Dwitiya Shradh an important collective remembrance day. The rite’s structure allows for multiple pindas to be offered in sequence, one for each ancestor being honoured.
If your family is performing Pitrupaksha rites for the first time and is uncertain which tithi to observe for specific ancestors, our pandits at Prayag Pandits can help determine the appropriate tithi based on the family’s panchang records and available information about the ancestors’ passing.
Rituals and Procedures for Dwitiya Shradh
1. Morning Preparations
The performer rises before sunrise on September 28, bathes with Ganga Jal, and dresses in clean white or light-coloured clothing. The home or chosen rite location is swept and purified with Ganga Jal or cow dung water (gomutra). A small altar is prepared with a photograph or memory object of the ancestor being honoured.
2. Sankalpa with Full Lineage Declaration
The pandit leads the sankalpa, which on Dwitiya Shradh specifically includes the names of elder male relatives alongside the direct ancestors. The sankalpa is particularly detailed on this day because of the broader category of souls being honoured.
3. Tarpan at the River
At Triveni Sangam or any sacred river, the performer offers Tarpan with water, black sesame, and kusha grass. For Dwitiya Shradh, the Tarpan sequence includes offerings for both the paternal line and the fraternal/collateral line of the family. The pandit will guide the performer through the correct mantras for each category of ancestor.
4. Pind Daan
Multiple pindas may be offered on Dwitiya Shradh — one for each ancestor being specifically honoured. The pindas are made with cooked rice, sesame, barley, honey, and ghee. The Pind Daan ritual at Triveni Sangam is performed with the feet in the river water, connecting the performer physically and spiritually to the sacred flow that carries offerings to Pitru Loka.
5. Brahmin Bhoj with Special Preparations
For Dwitiya Shradh, the Brahmin bhoj traditionally includes rice, dal, seasonal vegetables, and a preparation of urad dal (black lentils) — considered especially pleasing to the ancestors who departed on Dwitiya Tithi according to traditional regional practice. Kheer (rice pudding) is offered as the sweet dish.
6. Charitable Daan
Dwitiya Shradh prescribes the donation of agricultural produce — grains, sesame, and jaggery — as primary daan. If the ancestor was involved in trade or business, offering a symbolic gift of their trade (cloth for a tailor, books for a scholar, etc.) is a beautiful and personalised act of remembrance. Cash dakshina to the presiding pandit is standard practice.
Significance in Hindu Scriptures
The Garuda Purana (Preta Khanda, Chapter 12) describes a vision of Pitru Loka in which the souls of ancestors who died in their prime — younger brothers, uncles, cousins — are shown as particularly longing for acknowledgement from the living. The chapter notes that these souls, having not reached old age, retain stronger emotional attachments to the earthly realm and benefit enormously from the focused remembrance of Dwitiya Shradh.
The Brahma Vaivarta Purana contains a story of a merchant whose business had failed for three generations due to the unresolved grief of an elder brother who had died young and felt forgotten by the family. When the merchant performed a proper Dwitiya Shradh for this elder brother at a sacred confluence, the text describes how the brother’s soul was finally satisfied, and the merchant’s family recovered its prosperity within one year.
This narrative illustrates the deep belief that Pitru Rin — the debt to ancestors — does not only apply to grandparents and parents, but extends across the entire paternal lineage. Dwitiya Shradh is one of the most important mechanisms for resolving such debts.
Do’s and Don’ts for Dwitiya Shradh
Follow These Practices
- Recall specific memories and qualities of the ancestors you are honouring — the Garuda Purana says that genuine recollection is itself a form of offering
- Offer water to the Peepal tree on this day — in Hindu tradition, the Peepal is believed to be a temporary resting place for ancestral souls
- Offer a white cloth or white sesame to the presiding Brahmin specifically for Dwitiya Shradh
- Light two oil lamps (deepam) — one for the direct lineage and one for the collateral family members
- Read from the Garuda Purana or the Pitru Stotram after the rite is complete
Avoid These on Dwitiya Shradh
- Do not perform Shradh rites in a location that is noisy or lacking in sanctity — the concentrated spiritual energy of the rite requires a calm environment
- Do not skip the crow-feeding; in many families, Dwitiya Shradh specifically involves waiting for a crow to accept the food before the family eats
- Avoid starting any family dispute or legal matters on this day — the ancestor realm’s energies are active and any discord within the family is believed to disturb the departed souls
- Do not perform the rite in a hurry; Dwitiya Shradh, with its multiple pindas and extended lineage sankalpa, requires adequate time
Perform Dwitiya Shradh with Prayag Pandits
Performing Dwitiya Shradh at the Triveni Sangam of Prayagraj provides the maximum benefit for the ancestor’s soul. The confluence of three sacred rivers creates an energy field that is believed to carry offerings directly to Pitru Loka with heightened potency. Prayag Pandits has conducted hundreds of Dwitiya Shradh ceremonies at Triveni Sangam, with expert knowledge of the extended lineage mantras required for this specific tithi’s rites.
Our pandits will manage every aspect of the ceremony — Tarpan, Pind Daan, Brahmin Bhoj arrangements, and daan materials — so that you can focus entirely on the spiritual experience of connecting with your ancestors. We also provide the same quality of ancestral rites as Gaya through our ceremonies at Triveni Sangam, which the scriptures describe as equally meritorious.
For the complete Pitrupaksha schedule and to understand the full context of these rites, read our Pitrupaksha 2026 guide. The preceding day’s rites are covered in our article on Pratipada Shradh, and the following day’s rites are described in our Tritiya Shradh article.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Dwitiya Shradh
See our full Pitrupaksha ritual guide for the complete calendar. Learn more about how to perform Pind Daan and the spiritual significance of Shradh.