Shraddha

Shraddha is the annual rite performed for departed ancestors — typically on the tithi (lunar date) of the ancestor's death, and during the 16-day Pitru Paksha fortnight (Bhadrapada Krishna Pratipada to Ashwin Krishna Amavasya, falling in September-October). Shraddha rituals include tarpan (water-offerings), Pind Daan (rice-ball offerings), and feeding Brahmins as proxy for the ancestors. The most powerful Shraddha is performed at sacred sites — Gaya (Bihar) being foremost, followed by Pushkar, Varanasi, Haridwar, and Triveni Sangam (Prayagraj).

In classical Hindu thought, the ancestors (pitr-loka residents) depend on their descendants for ritual nourishment. Without annual Shraddha, ancestors are believed to suffer pitru-rin — the karmic debt their descendants owe them. Three generations of ancestors (parent, grandparent, great-grandparent on both paternal and maternal sides) are honoured. The Brahmin feeding component is theologically significant — the Brahmin physically receives the food, but the ritual transfers nourishment energetically to the ancestor.

The annual Shraddha is performed on the tithi of the ancestor's death — there is no muhurta flexibility for the date itself. Time of day: morning (8 AM to noon) is preferred, with the actual feeding-of-Brahmins at noon. During Pitru Paksha, any of the 16 days is acceptable; the specific day matching the deceased's tithi is the most powerful. The Mahalaya (last day of Pitru Paksha — Sarva-Pitru Amavasya) is the universal day for ancestors whose specific tithi is unknown.