Bhishma Dwadashi 2026: Date, Significance and Parana Time

Bhishma Dwadashi 2026 Date, Tithi Details And Parana Time

Bhishma Dwadashi 2026 is not only a memorial day, it is a deeply meaningful occasion to remember ancestors through tarpana, daana and prayer. The festival is connected with the time of the Mahabharata and especially with the life and departure of Bhishma Pitamah, who is remembered for his steadfast dharma and uncompromising sense of duty.

Every year this observance falls in the month of Magha on the Shukla Dwadashi Tithi. In 2026, the tithi and timings again align in a way that is considered very suitable for worship of Lord Vishnu and for sacred rites in honour of Bhishma and the Pitris.

Detail	Time and Date
Start of Dwadashi Tithi	29 January 2026, 01:55 pm
End of Dwadashi Tithi	30 January 2026, 11:09 am
Day of Bhishma Dwadashi fast and observance	29 January 2026, Thursday
Parana day	30 January 2026, Friday
Parana time	07:10 am to 09:20 am

The fast and main observance are kept on Dwadashi itself and the fast is broken on the next day after sunrise within the indicated parana period. In 2026, Dwadashi ends before sunrise on the parana day, so parana is taken in the Ekadashi Tithi, at the appropriate morning time.

Bhishma Pitamah In The Mahabharata And The Root Of This Festival

Bhishma Dwadashi is linked to the great figure of the Mahabharata who is revered as an example of vow, duty and unwavering discipline. The original name of Bhishma was Devavrata. He was born as the son of King Shantanu and Goddess Ganga and from an early age he became known for his strength, wisdom and loyalty.

To protect the honour of his father and the royal lineage, Devavrata took a fierce vow never to marry, a vow so strong that he came to be called Bhishma. His life is often seen as a demonstration of devotion to duty even at the cost of personal comfort.

It is believed that Bhishma laid on the bed of arrows after the war and chose to leave his body on Ashtami, yet the traditional rites, shraddha and tarpana in his name are preferred on Dwadashi. This is why Shukla Dwadashi of Magha, dedicated to these ancestral rites, came to be honoured as Bhishma Dwadashi.

Link Between Bhishma Dwadashi And Pitru Dosha

Bhishma Dwadashi, observed on Magha Shukla Dwadashi, brings together the worship of Lord Vishnu, the remembrance of Lord Krishna and the honouring of Bhishma Pitamah as a dharmic ancestor.

On this day

• the Bhishma Parva is recited
• Lord Krishna and Lord Vishnu are worshipped with proper rituals
• special tarpana and offerings are made remembering Bhishma and one’s own Pitris

According to traditional belief, the tarpana, pind daan and shraddha performed on this date carry particular strength in reaching the ancestral realm. For families where Pitru Dosha is indicated, Bhishma Dwadashi is considered an especially suitable day to perform ancestral worship and daana for peace of the Pitris and softening of karmic imbalances.

Puja Method On Bhishma Dwadashi

The observance of Bhishma Dwadashi begins with a quiet and disciplined morning.

• After completing daily ablutions, bathe and wear clean, simple clothes
• Clean the place of worship and prepare the altar with an image or murti of Lord Vishnu
• Arrange a lamp, incense, flowers, tulsi leaves, sesame seeds and water
• Remember Lord Vishnu and chant His names, offering a simple stuti or mantra

After the basic worship of Lord Vishnu, the devotee turns towards tarpana and ancestral rites, which are central to this day.

How To Perform Tarpana For Bhishma And The Ancestors

Bhishma Dwadashi is especially devoted to tarpana and it is performed with care, sincerity and a sense of gratitude.

• During the morning or forenoon, stand facing the Sun
• Take a clean vessel filled with water, sesame seeds and kusa grass
• Offer arghya to Surya Deva while remembering Bhishma Pitamah and one’s own forefathers
• As the water is poured, silently or audibly recall the names or line of the ancestors in a simple sankalpa

Those who are not familiar with the detailed rites may request a competent priest to perform tarpana on their behalf. The heart of the observance lies in respect and remembrance, rather than in complexity.

Importance Of Shraddha, Pind Daan And Charity On This Day

Bhishma Dwadashi is regarded as highly suitable for shraddha, pind daan and daana.

• Pind daan with sesame and other prescribed items is done for the peace and uplift of the ancestors
• Both the giving and the intake of sesame on this day are honoured, as sesame is linked with purification and ancestral satisfaction
• Tradition associates this tithi with the time when the Pandavas performed the final rites of Bhishma Pitamah, which adds emotional depth to ancestral rituals on this day

For those who are not able to perform shraddha regularly, Bhishma Dwadashi becomes a key opportunity to offer at least one set of rites, prayers and offerings for the Pitris.

Feeding Brahmins, Homa And The Merit Of Giving

On Bhishma Dwadashi, feeding brahmins with reverence and offering charity are described as highly meritorious.

• It is encouraged to offer food, sesame seeds, grains, clothes and other useful items to brahmins as per one’s capacity
• Many also perform homa with sesame and ghee in the name of Lord Vishnu and the ancestors
• Scriptures describe that such homa and daana on this day can bring merit comparable to major Vedic sacrifices like Agnishtoma
• Daana done with sincerity is often compared with the merit of go daana, the gift of a cow, when done in the right spirit

The deeper purpose of these acts is to cultivate generosity, reduce attachment and honour both the divine and the ancestral line.

Listening To Bhishma Katha And Inner Lessons Of The Day

The reading or listening of Bhishma’s story on this day is considered uplifting and instructive.

• The account of Bhishma’s vows highlights how deeply one can stand for dharma and duty
• Remembering the ancestors nurtures humility and a sense of continuity with those who lived before
• For people struggling with family disharmony or inner unrest, Bhishma Dwadashi offers a frame for reflection and an opportunity to seek guidance and blessing from the Pitris

In this sense, Bhishma Dwadashi becomes not only a ritual date but a living reminder of roots, responsibility and inner strength.

Making Bhishma Dwadashi 2026 Meaningful

Bhishma Dwadashi 2026 can be turned into a meaningful turning point rather than just a symbolic observance.

• Spend some time recalling parents, grandparents and earlier ancestors with gratitude
• If possible, visit a sacred river, ghat or temple for snan and tarpana or else perform it at home with purity and care
• Offer practical respect and service to living elders at home, listening to their experiences and acknowledging their role

When the day is used in this way, it supports stability, groundedness and a softer, more grateful approach to life.

Frequently Asked Questions

When will Bhishma Dwadashi be observed in 2026
Bhishma Dwadashi in 2026 will be observed on Thursday, 29 January, during Magha Shukla Dwadashi. The Tithi begins at 01:55 pm on 29 January and ends at 11:09 am on 30 January. Parana for the fast is taken on 30 January between 07:10 am and 09:20 am.

How is Bhishma Dwadashi connected with Pitru Dosha
Because Dwadashi is considered the best day for rites in honour of Bhishma and the Pitris, tarpana, shraddha and daana performed on Bhishma Dwadashi are believed to help calm the effects of Pitru Dosha. It is seen as a powerful day to seek ancestral peace and blessings.

What are the main rituals recommended on Bhishma Dwadashi
The main observances include bathing, worship of Lord Vishnu, offering arghya with sesame, water and kusa while facing the Sun, performing tarpana and pind daan for the Pitris, feeding brahmins and giving daana according to one’s capacity.

Can any devotee perform tarpana on this day
A devotee who knows the basic method may perform tarpana personally. If not, it is advised to engage a knowledgeable priest. What matters most is that the act is done with sincerity, remembrance and respect for the ancestors.

Why are sesame daan and homa given so much importance on Bhishma Dwadashi
Sesame is associated with purification and satisfaction of the Pitris. Daan, homa and pind daan with sesame on Bhishma Dwadashi are described as especially fruitful, bringing merit compared to major sacrifices and go daana and supporting well being, prosperity and inner cleansing when offered with a pure mind.