Pitru Paksha
A 16-day window for ancestor offerings — major life events suspended.
Gregorian date
26 September 2026
Saturday
Tithi
Krishna Pratipada to Krishna Amavasya
Bhadrapada (August – September)
Duration
16-day
Also known as
Shradh Paksha · Mahalaya Paksha
Significance
A 16-day fortnight when ancestors are believed to descend to receive offerings (tarpana) from descendants. Major auspicious activities — marriage, gruha-pravesh, business launches, new purchases — are universally avoided during this window.
What happens on the day
- •Daily tarpana (water + sesame offerings) for ancestors
- •Pind daan (rice-ball offerings) at sacred sites
- •Feed Brahmins on the family's shradh date
Avoid
- ✗Marriage
- ✗Gruha pravesh
- ✗New business launches
- ✗Buying gold / vehicles
- ✗Any major auspicious sankalpa
About the month of Bhadrapadaभाद्रपद
Hosts Hartalika Teej, Ganesh Chaturthi (Ganesh Utsav), Vishwakarma Puja. Concludes with Pitru Paksha — a 16-day window for ancestor offerings.
More festivals in Bhadrapada
Onam
26 August 2026 · Thiruvonam nakshatra in Malayalam Chingam month
Kerala's 10-day harvest festival — homecoming of King Mahabali.
Hartalika Teej
15 September 2026 · Shukla Tritiya
The strictest of married-women fasts — no food, no water for 24 hours.
Ganesh Chaturthi
16 September 2026 · Shukla Chaturthi
Ten days of Ganesha — homecoming, then farewell on Anant Chaturdashi.