Shradh Dates 2026-2027: Complete Pitru Paksha Calendar & Types of Shradh

Knowing the correct shradh dates is essential for every Hindu family that wishes to honor departed ancestors. Shradh is not a single event — it encompasses multiple types of ancestral ceremonies, each with its own timing, purpose, and ritual procedure. This page provides the complete shradh dates calendar for 2026 and explains when each type of shradh should be performed.

Whether you are looking for Pitru Paksha 2026 dates, your family’s annual varshik shraddh, or the monthly masik shradh schedule, this guide covers all of them.

Pitru Paksha Shradh Dates 2026 — Complete Tithi Calendar

Pitru Paksha (also called Shradh Paksha or Mahalaya Paksha) is the 16-day period dedicated to ancestral rites. In 2026, Pitru Paksha runs from September 26 (Saturday) to October 10 (Saturday).

During Pitru Paksha, each day (tithi) is designated for performing shradh of ancestors who died on that particular tithi. Here is the complete 2026 calendar:

*Maha Bharani falls on the day when Bharani Nakshatra is present during the Krishna Paksha, which in 2026 coincides with Tritiya/Panchami tithi area. Consult a pandit for the exact muhurat.

Sarva Pitru Amavasya (October 10, 2026) is the most important day. If you do not know the death tithi of your ancestor, or if you wish to perform shradh for all ancestors collectively, this is the day to choose. Read our Sarva Pitru Amavasya guide.

Shradh 2026 Key Dates at a Glance

• Pitru Paksha start: September 26, 2026 (Purnima Shradh)
• Maha Bharani Shradh: September 29, 2026
• Matru Navami (Mothers): October 4, 2026
• Magha Shradh: October 7, 2026
• Sarva Pitru Amavasya (Mahalaya): October 10, 2026 — the most important day
• Pitru Paksha end: October 10, 2026

These dates are based on the North Indian (Purnimant) calendar. For Amant calendar regions (Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh), the dates remain the same as Pitru Paksha falls in the Krishna Paksha of Bhadrapada/Ashwin month universally.

The exact muhurat (auspicious time) for performing shradh on each day varies. Generally, the aparahna kaal (afternoon period, roughly 1:00 PM to 3:30 PM) is considered the prescribed time for ancestral rites. The Manusmriti (Chapter 3, Verse 278) specifically designates the afternoon as the time for pitru karma.

How to Know Which Shradh Date Is Right for Your Family

The correct shradh date depends on the tithi (lunar day) on which your ancestor passed away. This is calculated from the Hindu panchang, not the English calendar.

For example:

• If your father passed away on Ashtami tithi (8th day of any fortnight), his annual shradh falls on Ashtami Shradh day during Pitru Paksha — October 3, 2026.
• If your mother passed away on any tithi, Matru Navami (October 4, 2026) is specifically designated for mothers’ shradh.
• If you do not know the exact tithi, Sarva Pitru Amavasya (October 10) covers everyone.

If you are unsure about the tithi, share the English date of death with our pandit team and we will calculate the correct shradh date for you. Contact us.

Types of Shradh Beyond Pitru Paksha

Many families believe shradh only happens during Pitru Paksha. In reality, Hindu scripture prescribes several types of shradh throughout the year:

1. Varshik Shraddh (Annual Death Anniversary)

Performed every year on the death anniversary tithi. This is separate from Pitru Paksha and is the most personal form of ancestral remembrance. The eldest son or karta performs it with a local pandit or at a sacred tirtha like Gaya or Prayagraj.

2. Masik Shradh (Monthly)

Some families observe monthly shradh on the Amavasya (new moon day) of each month. This is a simplified tarpan — a water offering with sesame seeds — rather than a full Pind Daan ceremony.

Amavasya dates 2026 (for monthly tarpan):

3. Sapindi Shradh (12th/13th Day After Death)

Performed on the 12th or 13th day after death as part of the dashkriya vidhi (ten-day post-death rites). This ceremony formally unites the departed soul with the ancestors. Read our Sapindi Shradh guide.

4. Tripindi Shradh

A special ceremony performed when a family has missed three or more years of annual shradh. It compensates for the accumulated debt to ancestors. Typically performed at Gaya or Trimbakeshwar.

5. Mahalaya Shradh

Another name for the Pitru Paksha period. The term mahalaya refers to the “great dissolution” when the barrier between the world of the living and the pitru loka (ancestral realm) is thinnest. Mahalaya Amavasya is the culmination of this period.

6. Nandimukha Shradh

A joyous form of shradh performed before auspicious events like weddings, upanayana (thread ceremony), or the birth of a child. It invites ancestral blessings for the happy occasion.

Shradh Rules and Restrictions During Pitru Paksha

During the Pitru Paksha period, families observing shradh follow specific rules prescribed by the Dharma Shastras:

What You Should Do

• Perform tarpan (water offering) daily during Pitru Paksha, even if you are not performing a full shradh ceremony
• Feed Brahmins and offer food to crows (considered messengers of Yama) before eating your own meal on shradh day
• Offer pind using black sesame (til), barley (jau), and kusha grass
• Face south while performing tarpan — south is the direction of the ancestors
• Use silver or copper vessels for water offerings (if available)

What You Should Avoid

• Avoid starting new ventures, buying property, or conducting weddings during Pitru Paksha
• Avoid eating non-vegetarian food, onion, garlic, and masoor dal on shradh day
• Do not use iron vessels for the ceremony
• Avoid cutting hair or nails on your specific shradh day

For a complete list of dos and don’ts, read our detailed guide: Dos and Don’ts During Pitrupaksha 2026.

Difference Between Shradh and Tarpan

These two terms are often used interchangeably, but they refer to different levels of ancestral ritual:

Learn the complete tarpan procedure in our Tarpan Vidhi guide. For those who want to perform both, our pandit team at Gaya and Prayagraj conducts tarpan with full mantras as part of the shradh ceremony.

Where to Perform Shradh for Maximum Spiritual Merit

While shradh can be performed at home, performing it at a sacred tirtha multiplies the spiritual merit according to scripture. The Garuda Purana and Vayu Purana specifically name these tirthas for ancestral rites:

• Gaya, Bihar — the supreme tirtha for Pind Daan. Vishnupad Temple is the primary ceremony site.
• Prayagraj (Triveni Sangam) — the confluence of Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati. Preferred for Asthi Visarjan and Tarpan.
• Varanasi (Kashi) — the city of Moksha. Manikarnika and Harishchandra Ghats.
• Brahmakapal, Badrinath — high Himalayan tirtha especially powerful for moksha rites.
• Haridwar (Har ki Pauri) — where the Ganga enters the plains.

How Shradh Dates Are Calculated Each Year

Shradh dates change every year because the Hindu calendar is lunisolar — based on the moon’s phases, not the Gregorian (English) calendar. Pitru Paksha always falls in the Krishna Paksha (waning fortnight) of Bhadrapada month (Purnimant calendar) or Ashwin month (Amant calendar).

This period starts the day after Bhadrapada Purnima and ends on Ashwin Amavasya. Because the lunar cycle is approximately 29.5 days, the English dates shift by 10-11 days each year:

• 2024: September 18 – October 2
• 2025: September 7 – September 21
• 2026: September 26 – October 10
• 2027: September 15 – September 29 (estimated)

We update this page annually with verified dates from the Drik Panchang and the Kashi Vishwanath Panchang Samiti. Bookmark this page for accurate shradh dates every year.

What to Do if You Missed Your Shradh Date

Life circumstances sometimes prevent families from performing shradh on the exact date. Here is what scripture prescribes:

• Missed the specific tithi day: You can perform on Sarva Pitru Amavasya (October 10, 2026), which accepts offerings for ancestors of ANY death tithi.
• Missed Pitru Paksha entirely: You can perform the shradh on the monthly Amavasya closest to the original date (see Amavasya calendar above). Alternatively, perform it at Gaya, where Pind Daan is valid on all days of the year — not limited to Pitru Paksha.
• Missed multiple years: A Tripindi Shradh ceremony compensates for three or more years of missed shradh. This is typically performed at Gaya or Trimbakeshwar. Read our Trimbakeshwar guide.
• Family disagreement about dates: When family members disagree on which date to observe (especially common in families split across India and abroad), our pandit team can advise based on the panchang and family gotra tradition.

The most important principle: performing shradh with sincere devotion on any date is better than not performing it at all. The Garuda Purana emphasizes that the ancestor receives the offering based on the devotion of the karta (performer), not merely the astronomical alignment.

Planning Shradh from Abroad (NRI Families)

For NRI families in the USA, UK, Canada, UAE, Singapore, Malaysia, or Australia, planning shradh requires advance coordination due to time zone differences and travel logistics.

Two options:

1. Travel to India: Plan your visit around Pitru Paksha 2026 (September 26 – October 10). Book flights and pandit services at least 2 months in advance. We arrange complete packages including airport pickup, accommodation, pandit, and ceremony at Gaya or Prayagraj.
2. Online shradh via video call: Our pandit performs the full ceremony at the tirtha while you participate live via WhatsApp or Zoom. The ceremony is scheduled in your timezone (EST, GMT, GST, etc.). Video recording provided. Book online shradh — Rs 11,000.

Read our country-specific guides: From USA | From UK | From UAE | From Canada

What is Included in a Shradh Ceremony

A complete shradh ceremony includes:

1. Sankalp — a formal vow stating the ancestor’s name, gotra, and the purpose of the offering
2. Pind Daan — offering rice balls (pind) mixed with sesame seeds, barley, and sacred grass
3. Tarpan — water offering with sesame seeds, facing south (the direction of Yama)
4. Brahmin Bhoj — feeding Brahmins in the name of the ancestors
5. Daan — charitable donations (clothes, food, cow/gau daan) in the ancestor’s name

At Prayag Pandits, all these components are included in our packages. View our complete guide to shradh for a deeper understanding of the ceremony.

Book Shradh at Sacred Tirthas with Prayag Pandits

We arrange complete shradh ceremonies at Gaya, Prayagraj, Varanasi, Haridwar, and Brahmakapal Badrinath. All packages include an experienced pandit, puja samagri, and coordination.

• Pind Daan at Gaya — from Rs 7,100
• Online Pind Daan at Gaya (Video Call) — Rs 11,000
• With Brahmin Bhoj — Rs 14,500

For Pitru Paksha 2026 (September 26 – October 10), early booking is recommended as pandit availability is limited during the season.

Contact us: +91-7754097777 (WhatsApp available) | Online enquiry