Pitru Paksha 2025: Dates, Complete Shraddh Rituals and Spiritual Insight
By Pt. Amitabh Sharma
Sixteen-day Shraddh, daily meaning, key rituals, daan and blessing of family tradition
Table of Contents
Pitru Paksha, the sixteen-day lunar period, is a sacred and solemn time in Indian tradition when families come together to pay respects, express gratitude and invoke blessings from their ancestors. This period begins every year with Bhadrapad Purnima and ends with the powerful Sarva Pitru Amavasya, also called Mahalaya Amavasya. Known as ‘Shradh Paksha’ or simply ‘Mahalaya’ in different traditions, Pitru Paksha holds a prominent spiritual and cultural significance across India.
Pitru Paksha 2025: Ritual Calendar and Tithi Timings
This year, Pitru Paksha begins from Sunday, September 7, 2025, on Bhadrapad Purnima and ends on Sunday, September 21 with Sarva Pitru Amavasya. Each day of this fortnight is associated with a different Shraddha, enabling every family to perform rites according to the departed one’s specific lunar date.
| Date | Shraddha | Tithi Begins | Tithi Ends |
|---|---|---|---|
| September 7 | Purnima Shraddha | 01:41 AM | 11:38 PM |
| September 8 | Pratipada Shraddha | 11:38 PM (Sep 7) | 09:11 PM |
| September 9 | Dwitiya Shraddha | 09:11 PM (Sep 8) | 06:28 PM |
| September 10 | Tritiya Shraddha | 06:28 PM (Sep 9) | 03:37 PM |
| September 11 | Chaturthi Shraddha | 03:37 PM (Sep 10) | 12:45 PM |
| September 12 | Panchami Shraddha | 12:45 PM (Sep 11) | 09:58 AM |
| September 13 | Shashthi Shraddha | 09:58 AM (Sep 12) | 07:23 AM |
| September 14 | Saptami Shraddha | 07:23 AM (Sep 13) | 05:04 AM |
| September 15 | Ashtami Shraddha | 05:04 AM (Sep 14) | 03:06 AM |
| September 16 | Navami Shraddha | 03:06 AM (Sep 15) | 01:31 AM |
| September 17 | Dashami Shraddha | 01:31 AM (Sep 16) | 12:21 AM |
| September 18 | Ekadashi Shraddha | 12:21 AM (Sep 17) | 11:39 PM |
| September 19 | Dwadashi Shraddha | 11:39 PM (Sep 17) | 11:24 PM |
| September 20 | Trayodashi Shraddha | 11:24 PM (Sep 18) | 11:36 PM (Sep 19) |
| September 21 | Chaturdashi Shraddha | 11:36 PM (Sep 19) | 12:16 AM (Sep 21) |
| September 21 | Sarva Pitru Amavasya | 12:16 AM | 01:23 AM (Sep 22) |
Why is Pitru Paksha Considered So Important?
Hindu belief holds that ancestors descend close to their family during Pitru Paksha. Shraddha, Tarpan, Pind Daan and food offerings provide peace for their souls and attract blessings for the living. It is recommended that one should not undertake auspicious tasks like marriages, purchases of gold or property, etc. during this fortnight as it is a time for remembrance, gratitude and focus on ancestral welfare.
Main Rituals Performed in Pitru Paksha
- Shraddha: Performed for each ancestor on the corresponding tithi, involving learned mantras and offering food to Brahmins.
- Tarpan: Water, sesame and kusha grass are offered for spiritual satisfaction of the forefathers.
- Pind Daan: Symbolic rice balls and other offerings are made to liberate and empower the ancestral souls.
- Charity (daan): Clothes, food, money, vessels, shoes, umbrellas and things once loved by the deceased are given away.
- Special Food: Kheer, poori, sesame, ghee, fruits and dishes favored by the departed are prepared and served.
Spiritual Meaning and Benefits of Shraddh Paksha
Pitru Paksha is considered a period when ancestral souls are closest to earth. Correct Shraddha and rituals:
- Reduce pitru rin (ancestral debt) and accrue great merit for the family.
- Increase positive energy through feeding crows, cows, dogs, ants, Brahmins (panchabali).
- Protect lineage, sanctify relationships and improve health, prosperity and familial harmony.
- Remove obstacles and bring success.
Quick Guide to Shraddha and Tarpan
- On the relevant tithi, face south, maintain a pure heart and mind, invoke your ancestor’s name and gotra.
- Make food and ritual offerings in a clean and sacred place.
- Use holy water, sesame, kusha grass and recite mantras for peace.
- Feed Brahmins, priests or the poor and distribute things dear to the departed.
FAQs: Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: Why are marriages, house warming and new beginnings avoided during Pitru Paksha?
A: It is a time of reflection, humility and gratitude, reserved for ancestral worship and not material celebrations.
Q2: How to determine Shraddh tithi?
A: Use the death lunar date; consult a panchang, family priest or tradition.
Q3: Can women perform Shraddha, Tarpan or charity?
A: Yes, especially in special circumstances, for both paternal and maternal lineages.
Q4: What foods are most suitable during Shraddh?
A: Kheer, poori, sesame, milk, fruits, honey and the favorite dishes of the ancestor.
Q5: What is Sarva Pitru Amavasya?
A: The last and most inclusive day for those whose death date is not known, marked by communal Tarpan and charity.
The True Essence of Pitru Paksha
These days are not for grief but are a festival of light for the soul, gratitude and deep cultural consciousness. Pitru Paksha is the universal family’s tribute, binding its members with a thread of blessings and memory, ensuring the lineage continues with strength and grace.
