Pitru Paksha 2026 Dates, Tithi & Shradh Calendar: September 26 – October 10

📅 Pitru Paksha 2026 at a Glance

Start Date: Saturday, September 26, 2026 (Purnima Shradh)

End Date: Saturday, October 10, 2026 (Sarvapitri Amavasya / Mahalaya Amavasya)

Duration: 15 Lunar Days

Best Time for Rituals: Aparahna Kaal (approx. 1:00 PM – 3:30 PM)

Most Sacred Day: October 10 — Sarvapitri Amavasya (for all ancestors)

Pitru Paksha is the sacred 16-day period in the Hindu calendar dedicated to honouring, remembering, and performing Shradh rituals for departed ancestors. In 2026, Pitru Paksha falls from September 26 to October 10, culminating in Mahalaya Amavasya — the most important day for ancestral offerings.

Whether you are planning Tarpan, Pind Daan, or simply looking to donate food in your ancestors' name, this complete guide gives you every date, tithi, and muhurat you need for Pitru Paksha 2026.

→ Donate on Pitru Paksha 2026 — Feed the hungry in your ancestors' memory

Complete Shradh Tithi Calendar: Pitru Paksha 2026

Each day of Pitru Paksha is linked to a specific tithi (lunar day). Shradh is ideally performed on the tithi corresponding to the ancestor's date of death. Use this table to find the correct date for your family's observance:

Note: Times above follow the North Indian Purnimanta calendar. For exact muhurat, refer to a local Panchang or apps like Drik Panchang.

Key Observance Days in Pitru Paksha 2026

1. Sarvapitri Amavasya / Mahalaya Amavasya — October 10, 2026 (Most Important)

This is the most sacred day of the entire Pitru Paksha. On Mahalaya Amavasya, Shradh can be performed for all ancestors collectively — known or unknown, whether their individual tithi is remembered or not. It is considered universally auspicious and is believed to grant liberation (moksha) to all ancestors for whom Shradh is performed.

If you can only observe one day of Pitru Paksha this year, October 10, 2026 is the day.

2. Avidhava Navami — October 4, 2026

A day specifically dedicated to the Shradh of married women — especially mothers and grandmothers — who passed away while their husbands were still living. Also called Matru Navami in some traditions.

3. Maha Bharani — October 8, 2026

When the Bharani Nakshatra coincides with a tithi in the Krishna Paksha during Pitru Paksha, it creates an especially potent muhurat for Shradh and Pind Daan. In 2026, this falls on or around Trayodashi — consult your local Panchang for exact timings.

4. Chaturdashi Shradh — October 9, 2026

Reserved for those who passed away due to unnatural causes — accidents, weapons, sudden illness. This tithi is specifically designated for such souls to receive Shradh with the right intention.

5. Saturdays During Pitru Paksha

Saturdays are ruled by Shani (Saturn), the planet associated with karma and the ancestral realm. In 2026, September 26 and October 10 both fall on Saturday — making them doubly powerful for Tarpan and Pind Daan.

Best Time (Muhurat) for Shradh Rituals in 2026

The timing of Shradh matters. Hindu scriptures specifically prescribe the Aparahna Kaal (afternoon period) as the most auspicious time for Pitru Karma. Here are the three key muhurats:

Note: Exact timings vary by location and date. Refer to your local Panchang or use Drik Panchang for precise calculations.

Why Pitru Paksha 2026 Matters: A Brief Explanation

Pitru Paksha is grounded in three spiritual principles:

• Pitru Rina: Every person carries a debt of gratitude to their ancestors. Pitru Paksha is the annual opportunity to acknowledge and repay that debt through ritual, prayer, and giving.
• Karmic Continuity: Hindu belief teaches that unresolved karmic debts and ancestral attachments can affect the living family. Shradh performed with sincerity is believed to release these bonds.
• Liberation of Souls: The 16 days of Pitru Paksha create a window during which departed souls are most accessible to the prayers and offerings of their descendants — and most able to attain peace.

"During Pitru Paksha, the veil between the living and the ancestral realm thins. Whatever is offered in sincerity reaches those who have passed. — Vedic Tradition"

What to Do During Pitru Paksha 2026: A Practical Guide

You do not need elaborate resources or a pilgrimage to honour your ancestors meaningfully. Here is what you can do at home and online:

Daily Practices (September 26 – October 10, 2026)

• Take a bath early morning and offer Tarpan: Pour water mixed with black sesame seeds (til), barley, and flowers in the direction of the south (the direction of the ancestral realm), while remembering your ancestors by name.
• Light a diya (lamp) in the evening at home, near the family photograph or puja space of the departed.
• Avoid non-vegetarian food, alcohol, onions, and garlic during the period — traditional dietary practices of Pitru Paksha.
• Feed crows (considered messengers of the ancestors) and cows during this period.
• Perform Anna Daan: Donate food to the poor, needy, or through a trusted NGO — this is the most powerful modern expression of Shradh.

On Your Ancestor's Tithi

• Perform the full Shradh ritual — ideally with a priest's guidance — including Tarpan, Pind Daan, and Brahmin Bhojan.
• Donate food or essentials in the ancestor's name.
• Share a meal with family and speak about the ancestor — keep their memory alive.

Make Your Pitru Paksha 2026 Donation Meaningful

Akshaya Chaitanya, a trusted NGO in Mumbai, makes it simple to fulfil Anna Daan during Pitru Paksha. Every meal you sponsor is dedicated in your ancestor's name — and every rupee goes directly toward hot, nutritious food served to those who need it most.

Pitru Paksha 2026 Donation — How It Works

1. Visit akshayachaitanya.org/donate/pitruPaksha
2. Choose your donation amount (₹25 per meal)
3. Enter your details and select your preferred Anna Daan date during Pitru Paksha
4. Complete payment via UPI, net banking, or card
5. Receive: 80G tax exemption receipt + optional digital certificate with ancestor's name

Our Pitru Paksha programme runs for the full 16-day period (September 26 – October 10, 2026), with meal distributions across 104+ municipal schools, 31+ government hospitals, and homeless shelters in Mumbai.

→ Donate on Pitru Paksha

→ Food Donation Online

Frequently Asked Questions: Pitru Paksha 2026

Q1: When is Pitru Paksha 2026?

Pitru Paksha 2026 begins on Saturday, September 26, 2026 (Purnima Shradh) and ends on Saturday, October 10, 2026 (Sarvapitri Amavasya / Mahalaya Amavasya).

Q2: When is Mahalaya Amavasya in 2026?

Mahalaya Amavasya in 2026 falls on Saturday, October 10, 2026. It is the most important and universally auspicious day of Pitru Paksha, suitable for performing Shradh for all ancestors.

Q3: How do I find the right Shradh tithi for my ancestor?

Shradh is performed on the tithi (lunar date) on which the ancestor passed away. If you know the Hindu calendar date (tithi) of their death, match it to the 2026 Pitru Paksha calendar above. If you don't know the tithi, perform Shradh on Sarvapitri Amavasya (October 10, 2026) — it is valid for all ancestors.

Q4: What is the best time to perform Shradh in 2026?

The Aparahna Kaal (roughly 1:00 PM to 3:30 PM) is prescribed by the Manu Smriti as the most auspicious time for Pitru Karma. The Kutup Muhurat (approx. 11:44 AM) and Rohina Muhurat (approx. 12:32 PM) are also highly favoured.

Q5: Can I donate during Pitru Paksha if I cannot perform the physical rituals?

Yes. Anna Daan — donating food to the poor — is itself a complete Shradh act. You can fulfil your ancestral duty entirely through food donation, especially during Pitru Paksha when such acts carry heightened spiritual merit.

Q6: Are the Pitru Paksha 2026 dates the same across India?

The core dates are the same across India, as Pitru Paksha follows the universal Krishna Paksha of Bhadrapada/Ashwin. However, exact muhurat timings vary by location. Always refer to your local Panchang for precise timings.

Observe Pitru Paksha 2026 with Meaning

The dates of Pitru Paksha give you a framework — but the real observance is in the sincerity you bring to it. Whether it is lighting a lamp in your ancestor's memory, offering water in the morning, or donating a meal to a child who would otherwise go hungry — every act of love during these 16 days travels beyond this world.

Mark your calendar. Choose your tithi. And let this Pitru Paksha 2026 be more than a date — let it be a declaration that love is stronger than loss.

Donate on Pitru Paksha 2026 with Akshaya Chaitanya —

NGO in Mumbai serving 18,000+ meals daily.