Pitru Paksha 2026 Dates & Shraddha Tithi Calendar
Every Shradh date from Purnima (26 Sept) to Sarva Pitru Amavasya (10 Oct 2026), with muhurat and who each tithi is for.
Pitru Paksha 2026 begins with Purnima Shraddha on Saturday, 26 September 2026, the fortnight proper opens with Pratipada Shraddha on Sunday, 27 September, and it ends with Sarva Pitru Amavasya (Mahalaya Amavasya) on Saturday, 10 October 2026. Below is the complete Shraddha tithi calendar for 2026 — every date, the tithi it belongs to, and who it is traditionally meant for — followed by muhurat timings and how to find your own ancestor's date. Since this is a Panchang-based calendar, please confirm final dates with your family priest or local Panchang before your Sankalp.
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Pitru Paksha 2026 at a Glance
- Starts: Saturday, 26 September 2026 (Bhadrapada Purnima Shraddha)
- Fortnight opens (Pratipada): Sunday, 27 September 2026
- Matri Navami: Sunday, 4 October 2026
- Ghata Chaturdashi: Friday, 9 October 2026
- Ends — Sarva Pitru Amavasya: Saturday, 10 October 2026
Complete Shraddha Tithi Calendar 2026 (Date-wise)
| Date | Day | Tithi | Shraddha observance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 26 Sep | Saturday | Bhadrapada Purnima | Purnima Shraddha — for ancestors who passed away on a Purnima |
| 27 Sep | Sunday | Pratipada | Pratipada Shraddha — first day of the fortnight; some traditions use it for maternal grandparents |
| 28 Sep | Monday | Dwitiya | Dwitiya Shraddha |
| 29 Sep | Tuesday | Tritiya | Tritiya Shraddha |
| 30 Sep | Wednesday | Chaturthi | Chaturthi Shraddha (some Panchangs also place Panchami here) |
| 1 Oct | Thursday | Panchami / Shashthi* | Panchami Shraddha — traditionally for those who died unmarried or young |
| 2 Oct | Friday | Shashthi / Saptami* | Shashthi or Saptami Shraddha, per your local Panchang |
| 3 Oct | Saturday | Saptami / Ashtami* | Saptami or Ashtami Shraddha, per your local Panchang |
| 4 Oct | Sunday | Navami | Matri Navami (Avidhava Navami) — for mothers and married women who died before their husbands |
| 5 Oct | Monday | Dashami | Dashami Shraddha |
| 6 Oct | Tuesday | Ekadashi | Ekadashi Shraddha (Indira Ekadashi) — often for ascetics and renunciants |
| 7 Oct | Wednesday | Dwadashi | Dwadashi Shraddha — those who took sannyas (custom varies) |
| 8 Oct | Thursday | Trayodashi | Trayodashi Shraddha (often called Magha / Bharani Shraddha) |
| 9 Oct | Friday | Chaturdashi | Ghata Chaturdashi — for untimely or violent deaths (accident, weapon) |
| 10 Oct | Saturday | Amavasya | Sarva Pitru Amavasya (Mahalaya Amavasya) — for all ancestors |
* Why do some dates show two tithis? A fortnight has 15 lunar days plus the opening Purnima, so 16 shraddhas must fit into 15 calendar dates — which means two tithis sometimes share (or one skips) a day. Different Panchangs handle the Panchami–Ashtami stretch (1–3 October) by a day either way, and some place Maha Bharani Shraddha on 29 September while others place it on 8 October. The dates in the highlighted rows — 26 September, 4 October, 9 October and 10 October — are the same in every source we checked; for the rest, the deciding rule is the tithi prevailing at Aparahna Kaal (afternoon) of that day.
Which Date Should You Perform Your Ancestor's Shraddha?
- Find the tithi of death (not the calendar date) — from the family's records, an old Panchang, or the family priest.
- Match it to the table above. For example, a death on Ashtami is observed on the Ashtami Shraddha date.
- Use the special dates where they apply: Matri Navami for a mother or a married woman who died before her husband; Ghata Chaturdashi for an accidental or violent death; Purnima Shraddha for a Purnima death.
- If the tithi is unknown or forgotten, perform the Shraddha on Sarva Pitru Amavasya, 10 October 2026, which is valid for all ancestors.
Muhurat: When During the Day to Perform Shraddha
Tradition prefers the afternoon. Three windows are named: Kutup Muhurat (late mid-morning to midday), Rohina Muhurat (immediately after Kutup), and Aparahna Kaal (the afternoon period, considered the main time for Parvan Shraddha). As an example, on Sarva Pitru Amavasya (10 October 2026), Drik Panchang lists for Mumbai: Kutup Muhurat 12:02 PM–12:49 PM, Rohina Muhurat 12:49 PM–01:36 PM, and Aparahna Kaal 01:36 PM–03:58 PM, with the Amavasya tithi running from 09:35 PM on 9 October to 09:19 PM on 10 October. Another Nashik-focused source gives a slightly different Aparahna window (about 1:12 PM–3:36 PM), which shows how the clock times shift between cities and calculation methods. Timings are calculated from local sunrise and sunset, so always check the Panchang for your city.
What About Bhadrapada Purnima, 26 September?
Purnima Shraddha on 26 September is performed for ancestors who died on a Purnima. Technically, the Krishna-paksha fortnight begins the next day (27 September, Pratipada), which is why Pitru Paksha is described as both a 15-day and a 16-day period.
Do's for the Shraddha Day (Quick Checklist)
- Bathe early and wear clean, simple clothes.
- Perform the rite in the afternoon (Kutup–Rohina–Aparahna), not after sunset.
- Prepare a simple vegetarian meal without onion and garlic.
- Keep the first portions aside for the cow, crow, and dog.
- Give food or a donation to a Brahmin or someone in need.
For the full method see Shraddha Vidhi: Tarpan & Pind Daan Step by Step; for what to keep ready, see Shradh Samagri List, Rules & Do's and Don'ts; and for the meaning behind the fortnight, see What Is Shraddha? Pitru Paksha Meaning & Significance.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does Pitru Paksha 2026 start and end?
It starts on Saturday, 26 September 2026 (Purnima Shraddha) and ends on Saturday, 10 October 2026 (Sarva Pitru Amavasya).
When is Sarva Pitru Amavasya in 2026?
Saturday, 10 October 2026. The Amavasya tithi runs from about 9:35 PM on 9 October to 9:19 PM on 10 October (Mumbai).
When is Matri Navami 2026?
Sunday, 4 October 2026 (Navami tithi), the day for mothers and married women who died before their husbands.
Can I do Shraddha on a different day than my ancestor's tithi?
The rule is the death-tithi, but if it is unknown or missed, Sarva Pitru Amavasya is the accepted fallback. Your family priest can advise on your specific situation.
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