Pitru Paksha is a 16 day period from Bhadrapada Purnima to Sarvapitri Amavasya; when Hindus pay homage to their ancestor, especially through food offerings. Pitru Paksha is considered by Hindus to be inauspicious, given the death rite performed during the ceremony, known as Shraddha or Tarpan. The last day of Pitru Paksha is known as Sarvapitri Amavasya. It is also known as Pitru Amavasya, Peddala Amavasya, Mahalaya Amavasya or simply Mahalaya. It is the most significant day of Pitru Paksha.

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Pitru Paksha Shraddha Dates 2021

Pitru Paksha start date: Monday, 20 September 2021 - Purnima Shraddha (Bhadrapada Shukla Purnima); starts from the fortnight immediately after the Ganesh Chaturthi.

Pitru Paksha End date: Wednesday, 06 October 2021 - Sarvapitru Amavasya or Mahalaya Amavasya.

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Days Information and their importance

Purnima Shraddha

Monday, 20 September 2021
(Bhadra, Shukla Paksha Purnima)

Purnima Shraddha is also known as Shraddhi Purnima and Proshthapadi Purnima Shraddha. For those who died on Purnima Tithi, their Shraddha is done on Amavasya Shraddha and not on Bhadrapada Purnima. This is because Pitru Paksha starts on the next day of Bhadrapada Purnima Shraddha and it is not part of Pitru Paksha.

Pratipada Shraddha

Tuesday, 21 September 2021
(Ashwin, Krishna Paksha Pratipada)

Pratipada Shraddha is the first day of Pitru Paksha. On this day, shraddha is done for those ancestors who died on Pratipada Tithi. Pratipada Shraddha is also known as Padwa Shraddha. Pratipada Shraddha is also considered suitable to perform Shraddha for maternal grandparents. If there is no person to perform Shraddha at maternal home, or the death anniversary of maternal grandparents is not known then their Shraddha rituals can be performed on this auspicious tithi.

Dwitiya Shraddha

Wednesday, 22 September 2021
(Ashwin, Krishna Paksha Dwitiya)

Dwitiya Shradha is performed for the ancestors who died on the Dwitiya tithi (on Shukla pasha or Krishna paksha Dwitiya). If you are not performed the annual shraddha for any reason, then doing shraddha rituals during the respective tithi during the Pitru paksha can give added benefits. Dwitiya Shraddha is also called Dooj Shraddha.

Tritiya Shraddha

Thursday, 23 September 2021
(Ashwin, Krishna Paksha Tritiya)

Tritiya Shraddha is performed for the ancestors who passed away on Tritiya tithi of any Hindu month. It is also known as Teej Shraddha.

Chaturthi Shraddha

Friday, 24 September 2021
(Ashwin, Krishna Paksha Chaturthi)

Chaturthi Shraddha is done for those deceased family members who died on Chaturthi tithi. It is also known as Chauth Shraddha.

Bharani Shraddha

Friday, 24 September 2021
(Ashwin, Krishna Paksha Chaturthi)

Bharani Shraddha is one of the most auspicious days of Pitru Paksha. Shraddha ritual is performed during the Pitru Paksha during the Krishna Paksha of Ashwin month as per the Hindu calendar. Bharani Shraddha falls on Pitru Paksha when Bharani Nakshatra prevails during Aparahna Kala. Basically, this nakshatra prevails on Chaturthi Tithi or Panchami Tithi during Mahalaya Paksha. It is also known as Maha Bharani.

Read More: Bharani Shraddha Significance

Panchami Shraddha

Saturday, 25 September 2021
(Ashwin, Krishna Paksha Panchami)

Panchami Shraddha is done for those deceased family members who died on Panchami tithi, including both Shukla and Krishna Paksha Panchami. It is also known as Kunwara Panchami. Doing Shraddha on this tithi is significant for those deceased family members who died unmarried.

Shashthi Shraddha

Sunday, 26 September 2021
(Ashwin, Krishna Paksha Shashthi)

Shashthi Shraddha is done for those deceased family members who died on Shashthi tithi. Shashthi Shraddha is also known as Chhath Shraddha.

Saptami Shraddha

Tuesday, 28 September 2021
(Ashwin, Krishna Paksha Saptami)

Saptami Shraddha is done for those deceased family members who died on Saptami tithi.

Ashtami Shraddha

Wednesday, 29 September 2021
(Ashwin, Krishna Paksha Ashtami)

Ashtami Shraddha is done for those deceased family members who died on Ashtami tithi

Navami Shraddha

Thursday, 30 September 2021
(Ashwin, Krishna Paksha Navami)

Navami Shraddha is done for those deceased family members who died on Navami tithi. Navami Shraddha tithi is also known as Matra Navami. This tithi is the most suitable day to perform the mother's Shraddha. It is believed that doing Shraddha on this tithi appeases all deceased female members in the family. Navami Shraddha is also known as Naumi Shraddha and Avidhava Shraddha.

Dashami Shraddha

Friday, 01 October 2021
(Ashwin, Krishna Paksha Dashami)

Dashami Shraddha is done for those deceased family members who died on Dashami tithi.

Ekadashi Shraddha

Saturday, 02 October 2021
(Ashwin, Krishna Paksha Ekadashi)

Ekadashi Shraddha is done for those deceased family members who died on Ekadashi tithi. Ekadashi Shraddha is also known as Gyaras Shraddha.

Dwadashi Shraddha

Sunday, 03 October 2021
(Ashwin, Krishna Paksha Dwadashi)

Dwadashi Shraddha is done for those deceased family members who died on Dwadashi tithi. This tithi is also suitable to perform Shraddha for those who had taken renunciation Sannyasa before death. Dwadashi Shraddha is also known as Baras Shraddha.

Magha Shraddha

Sunday, 03 October 2021
(Ashwin, Krishna Paksha Dwadashi)

Magha Shraddha is performed during Pitru Paksha when Magha Nakshatra prevails during Aparahna Kala. If Magha Nakshatra prevails partially during Aparahna Kala on two days, then the day when it prevails for a longer duration is considered best for performing the Shraddha rituals.

Read More: Magha Shraddha Significance

Trayodashi Shraddha

Monday, 04 October 2021
(Ashwin, Krishna Paksha Trayodashi)

Trayodashi Shraddha is done for those deceased family members who died on Trayodashi tithi. This tithi is also suitable to perform Shraddha for dead children. It is also known as Teras Shraddha.

Chaturdashi Shraddha

Tuesday, 05 October 2021
(Ashwin, Krishna Paksha Chaturdashi)

Chaturdashi Shraddha tithi is only suitable for those deceased family members who were killed by some weapon, died in an accident, committed suicide, or were murdered. Otherwise, Chaturdashi Shraddha is not done on this tithi and is performed on Amavasya Shraddha tithi. Chaturdashi Shraddha is also known as Ghat Chaturdashi Shraddha or Ghayala Chaturdashi Shraddha.

Amavasya Shraddha

Wednesday, 06 October 2021
(Ashwin, Krishna Paksha Amavasya - Sarva Pitru Amavasya)

Amavasya Shraddha is done for those deceased family members who died on Amavasya Tithi, Purnima Tithi, and Chaturdashi tithi. If someone is not able to perform Shraddha on all this then a single Shraddha on this day is enough to appease all deceased souls in the family. If the death anniversary of ancestors is not known or forgotten then those Shraddha can be performed on this tithi. That's why Amavasya Shraddha is also known as Sarvapitra Moksha Amavasya.

Mahalaya Amavasya marks the beginning of the Navratri festival. It is believed that Goddess Durga was descended on the Earth on this day.

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Pitru Paksha Tithi on North and South Indian Calendar

As per the South Indian calendar, it is observed in the lunar month of Bhadrapada on the full moon day whereas, according to the North Indian calendar this is exalted in the lunar month of Ashwin which begins with the full moon day in Bhadrapada. However, both North Indians and South Indians conduct Shraddha rites on the same days. Pitru paksha is said to be a notable observance in Hindu culture because of other illustrious festivals such as Navratri dedicated to Navadurga is of nine days and Ganesh Chaturthi is of ten days, But this Pitru paksha (shraddha) lasts for sixteen days.