Pitru Paksha 2026: Why should you perform Shraddha on this day? Learn the correct date and important rules.
Pitru Paksha 2026 Date: In Hinduism, Pitru Paksha, dedicated to the ancestors, holds special significance. During this period, people perform Shraddha, Tarpan, and Pind Daan according to the dates of their ancestors. It is believed that performing Pitru Karma with devotion and proper rituals brings blessings from ancestors.
However, there is a particular confusion regarding the dates of Pitru Paksha in 2026. It would be inappropriate to consider the new moon day of September 11th as the new moon day of Pitru Paksha and perform Shraddha rituals. September 11th, 2026, is the Bhadrapada Amavasya, while Pitru Paksha begins after that date.
When will Pitru Paksha 2026 start?
According to the Panchang, Pitru Paksha will begin on September 27, 2026, and end with Sarva Pitru Amavasya on October 10, 2026. Purnima Shradh will be on September 26, while the main Pitru Paksha dates will begin from September 27.
During this period, the Shraddha of a person is generally performed according to the lunar date on which he died.
Why not perform Pitru Paksha Shraddha on 11th September?
The new moon day of September 11, 2026, is not the Sarva Pitru Amavasya of Pitru Paksha. It is the new moon day of the dark half of Bhadrapada month, also known as Kushotpatini or Pithori Amavasya in some regions.
Pitru Paksha may not have even begun on this day. Therefore, if you are referring to the annual Pitru Paksha Shraddha, do not consider it to be Pitru Paksha Shraddha on September 11th.
Although different traditions may have a general ritual of offering prayers or remembering ancestors on Amavasya, it would not be appropriate to categorically state that no rituals can be performed for ancestors on that day.
Complete Shraddha Date of Pitru Paksha
| date | Shraddha date |
|---|---|
| 26 September | Purnima Shraddha |
| 27 September | Pratipada Shraddha |
| 28 September | The second shraddha |
| 29 September | Tritiya Shraddha |
| September 30 | Chaturthi and Panchami Shraddha |
| 1 October | Shashthi Shraddha |
| 2 October | Saptami Shraddha |
| 3 October | Ashtami Shraddha |
| 4 October | Navami Shraddha |
| 5 October | Dashami Shraddha |
| 6 October | Ekadashi Shraddha |
| 7 October | Dwadashi Shraddha |
| 8 October | Trayodashi Shraddha |
| 9 October | Chaturdashi Shraddha |
| 10 October | Sarvapitra Amavasya |
This Shraddha calendar for 2026 is in accordance with the available Panchang calculations.
When is Sarva Pitru Amavasya?
Sarva Pitru Amavasya will fall on Saturday, October 10, 2026. This is considered the last and most important day of Pitru Paksha. Shraddha (shraadh) is performed on this day, especially for those ancestors whose death date is unknown or whose Shraddha (shraadh) could not be performed on the scheduled date due to some reason.
Do ancestors get angry if Shraddha is performed on the wrong day by mistake?
Religious beliefs emphasize the correct date and method for performing ancestral rituals . However, it cannot be stated with certainty that performing Shraddha on the wrong date will certainly anger the ancestors.
If there is any confusion regarding the date, it is better to confirm the date from a qualified Pandit or Acharya as per your family tradition and local calendar , as there may be difference in the time of sunrise and end of date at different places.
The most important thing
11 September 2026 = Bhadrapad Amavasya, not Sarvapitru Amavasya of Pitru Paksha.
September 27, 2026 = Beginning of Pitru Paksha.
10 October 2026 = End of Sarvapitru Amavasya and Pitru Paksha.
Therefore, before deciding the date of annual Shraddha, do check the death date of the ancestor and the local calendar .