Key Takeaways
- The three Pitru Paksha 2026 dates
- Which date to choose
- What a group ceremony is, and what it is not
- Gaya or Ujjain for a Madhya Pradesh family
In This Article
Families in Madhya Pradesh who want the rite performed at Gaya but cannot travel to Bihar can book a seat in a fixed-date group ceremony. Your ancestors are named in their own sankalp, the rite is performed at Vishnupad and the Falgu by a Gayawal pandit, and you receive the full recording. Three dates fall in Pitru Paksha 2026, from ₹788.55 including GST. See them on our online group Pind Daan page.
The three Pitru Paksha 2026 dates
| Ceremony | Total with GST | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Matru Navami Shradh | ₹998.55 | Sunday 4 October 2026 |
| Ekadashi Shradh | ₹788.55 | Tuesday 6 October 2026 |
| Sarva Pitru Amavasya | ₹1,155.00 | Saturday 10 October 2026 |
Base prices are ₹951, ₹751 and ₹1,100, with 5% GST added at checkout. These are introductory rates for this Pitru Paksha. One seat covers one family and up to five ancestors, each named separately by relation and gotra.
🕉️ Reserve a seat in the Gaya group ceremony
- Your family's own sankalp, up to 5 ancestors
- Performed at Vishnupad and the Falgu
- No travel and no fixed attendance time
- Full recording and photographs within 72 hours
Which date to choose
The date follows the tithi on which the ancestor died, reckoned by the Hindu lunar calendar and not the English one. If you are unsure, send us the English date and year and we will work the tithi back.
Matru Navami, 4 October
For female ancestors: mother, grandmother, or a married woman of the family. Many families observe Navami for all departed women of the lineage together.
Ekadashi, 6 October
For an ancestor whose death fell on Ekadashi tithi, known in Madhya Pradesh as gyaras shradh.
Sarva Pitru Amavasya, 10 October
For families who do not know the tithi, who missed the correct day, or who wish to offer for all ancestors at once. This is the day Pitru Paksha closes and the one most families choose when in doubt.
What a group ceremony is, and what it is not
Several families share one fixed date and one ceremony. They do not share a sankalp. Each family’s ancestors are named separately, by relation and gotra, so the offering is made for your lineage specifically. That is the part families worry about most and it is worth being plain about.
What a seat includes: the rite performed at Gaya by a Gayawal pandit with a pratinidhi acting for your family, all samagri and dakshina, and the complete video and photographs sent within 72 hours. You do not travel and you do not need to be online at a fixed time.
Gaya or Ujjain for a Madhya Pradesh family
Ujjain is close, familiar and sacred, and the rite performed there is valid. Gaya carries the specific association with Pind Daan at Vishnupad. The honest answer is that the choice turns on whether your family wants to travel and be present.
| Question | Gaya group ceremony | Ujjain in person |
|---|---|---|
| Where | Vishnupad and the Falgu, Bihar | Kshipra and Ram Ghat, Ujjain |
| Does the family travel? | No | Yes, you attend |
| Who performs it | Pandit and pratinidhi, on your behalf | Your family, with the pandit |
| Dates | Three fixed Pitru Paksha dates | Arranged with you |
| Afterwards | Full recording within 72 hours | You were there |
- Choose Ujjain when your family tradition points to the Kshipra or Mahakaleshwar, when members want to perform the rite with their own hands, or when travelling is straightforward from your city.
- Choose the Gaya group ceremony when your family specifically wants Gaya, when travel to Bihar is not practical, or when relatives are scattered and nobody can get there on the tithi.
Families sometimes do both over time, and there is no rule against it. Our note on why Pind Daan is done at Gaya sets out what the texts say about the distinction.
Booking from Indore, Bhopal or Jabalpur
Nothing about the booking depends on where in Madhya Pradesh you are, because nobody travels. You reserve a seat online, send the ancestors’ details, and the ceremony is performed at Gaya on the date. Families in Indore, Bhopal, Jabalpur, Gwalior and Ujjain book on the same terms.
What to have ready before checkout
- The ancestors’ names, up to five, with the relation of each.
- Your family gotra. If you do not know it, tell us and we will help.
- The tithi of death, or the English date so we can work it back.
- A WhatsApp number for the confirmation and the recording.
Common questions
Do we have to be online during the ceremony?
No. The rite is performed on your behalf and the complete recording is sent within 72 hours. There is no fixed attendance time.
Does sharing a ceremony make it a shared sankalp?
No. Each family’s ancestors are named separately in their own sankalp with their own gotra. The date and the ceremony are shared; the offering is not.
Can we name more than five ancestors?
One seat covers up to five. For more, book a second seat or ask us about a private ceremony instead.
What if we would rather perform it ourselves at Gaya?
In-person packages at Gaya start at ₹7,100 and run to ₹31,000 for the three-day circuit. Our Gaya Pind Daan cost guide covers those and the travel budget around them.
Reserving a seat
Pick the date that matches your ancestor’s tithi, have the names and gotra ready, and reserve the seat before the day. Everything is on our online group Pind Daan page, and our team will confirm the tithi with you on WhatsApp if you are unsure.
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