Pitru Paksha 2026 Shraddh Dates and Mahalaya Amavasya
Pitru Paksha 2026 began on Sunday, 27 September 2026 (Purnima Shraddha 26 September) and ended with Sarva Pitru Amavasya on Saturday, 10 October 2026.
Pitru Paksha 2026 dates
Pitru Paksha 2026: 27 September – 10 October 2026 (observed)
Pitru Paksha (Shraddh, Mahalaya Paksha) is the dark fortnight of Ashwin in the Purnimanta calendar (Bhadrapada in the Amanta calendar), set aside for honouring ancestors. Shraddha for a person is done on the tithi of their death; Sarva Pitru Amavasya is for all ancestors, and for anyone whose tithi is unknown or was missed.
Shraddh dates 2026 (New Delhi)
| Date | Shraddha |
|---|---|
| Sat, 26 Sep | Purnima Shraddha |
| Sun, 27 Sep | Pratipada Shraddha |
| Mon, 28 Sep | Dwitiya Shraddha |
| Tue, 29 Sep | Tritiya Shraddha; Maha Bharani |
| Wed, 30 Sep | Chaturthi and Panchami Shraddha |
| Thu, 1 Oct | Shashthi Shraddha |
| Fri, 2 Oct | Saptami Shraddha |
| Sat, 3 Oct | Ashtami Shraddha |
| Sun, 4 Oct | Navami Shraddha (Matri Navami) |
| Mon, 5 Oct | Dashami Shraddha |
| Tue, 6 Oct | Ekadashi Shraddha (Indira Ekadashi) |
| Wed, 7 Oct | Dwadashi Shraddha; Magha Shraddha |
| Thu, 8 Oct | Trayodashi Shraddha |
| Fri, 9 Oct | Chaturdashi Shraddha |
| Sat, 10 Oct | Sarva Pitru Amavasya (Mahalaya Amavasya) |
Chaturthi and Panchami fell on the same day in 2026 because a tithi was skipped. Amavasya ran from about 9:36 PM on 9 October to 9:19 PM on 10 October (New Delhi, our calculation).
Significance
Hindu tradition holds that during this fortnight the ancestors (pitru) are especially receptive to offerings made by their descendants. Offering food, water and prayers is seen as repaying the debt to one’s forebears (pitru rin). In Bengal, Mahalaya Amavasya also marks the start of Devi Paksha and the countdown to Durga Puja, traditionally greeted with the early-morning radio recital Mahishasura Mardini.
Rituals
- Perform tarpan (offering water with black sesame and kusha grass) and pind daan, ideally around midday (Kutup and Rohina muhurat).
- Feed Brahmins, cows, crows and dogs, and the needy; crows are traditionally fed as messengers to the ancestors.
- Many avoid new purchases, weddings, griha pravesh and other auspicious beginnings during the fortnight.
- Pilgrims perform shraddha at Gaya, Varanasi, Prayagraj, Haridwar and other tirthas.
Panchang for Mahalaya
Panchang for 10 October 2026 (New Delhi).
Pitru Paksha 2027
Pitru Paksha 2027 is listed from Thursday, 16 September, with Sarva Pitru Amavasya on Wednesday, 29 September 2027.
Related
All times are IST for New Delhi unless stated otherwise. Muhurat changes with your city’s sunrise, sunset and moonrise: check today’s Panchang for your location. Outside India the date can differ; use your local panchang. Sources: Drik Panchang (New Delhi), cross-checked with Free Panchang’s own calculation (Lahiri ayanamsa).
Frequently asked questions
- Pitru Paksha 2026 kab se kab tak tha?
- Pitru Paksha 2026 ran from 27 September (Pratipada Shraddha; Purnima Shraddha was 26 September) to Sarva Pitru Amavasya on 10 October 2026.
- When was Mahalaya Amavasya 2026?
- Sarva Pitru (Mahalaya) Amavasya 2026 was on Saturday, 10 October 2026.
- What if I do not know an ancestor’s death tithi?
- Shraddha for ancestors whose tithi is unknown is traditionally performed on Sarva Pitru Amavasya.