The direct answer: Shraddha Dates 2026 (Pitru Paksha): Shraddha rites are performed during Pitru Paksha — the 16 lunar days from Bhadrapada Purnima to Ashwina Amavasya (Sep/Oct) — to honour and propitiate one\ AskSoma publishes this at asksoma.ai/panchang/vrat/shraddha-2026 as a free Vedic astrology resource using Swiss Ephemeris calculations and classical Jyotish interpretation — not generic sun-sign copy.
Shraddha rites are performed during Pitru Paksha — the 16 lunar days from Bhadrapada Purnima to Ashwina Amavasya (Sep/Oct) — to honour and propitiate one\
Shraddha rites are performed during Pitru Paksha — the 16 lunar days from Bhadrapada Purnima to Ashwina Amavasya (Sep/Oct) — to honour and propitiate one's ancestors.
Each lunar tithi during Pitru Paksha corresponds to ancestors who died on that tithi. Mahalaya Amavasya is the universal shraddha day for those whose death tithi is unknown.
| Date | Tithi | Begins | Ends |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sat 26 Sep 2026 | Purnima | 23:09 on 25 Sep | 22:22 on 26 Sep |
| Sun 27 Sep 2026 | Krishna Pratipada | 22:22 on 26 Sep | 21:03 on 27 Sep |
| Mon 28 Sep 2026 | Krishna Dwitiya | 21:03 on 27 Sep | 19:20 on 28 Sep |
| Tue 29 Sep 2026 | Krishna Tritiya | 19:20 on 28 Sep | 17:18 on 29 Sep |
| Wed 30 Sep 2026 | Krishna Chaturthi | 17:18 on 29 Sep | 15:04 on 30 Sep |
| Thu 1 Oct 2026 | Krishna Panchami | 15:04 on 30 Sep | 12:44 on 1 Oct |
| Fri 2 Oct 2026 | Krishna Shashthi | 12:44 on 1 Oct | 10:23 on 2 Oct |
| Sat 3 Oct 2026 | Krishna Saptami | 10:23 on 2 Oct | 08:05 on 3 Oct |
| Sun 4 Oct 2026 kshaya — calendars may differ | Krishna Ashtami | 08:05 on 3 Oct | 05:55 on 4 Oct |
| Sun 4 Oct 2026 | Krishna Navami | 05:55 on 4 Oct | 03:55 on 5 Oct |
| Mon 5 Oct 2026 | Krishna Dashami | 03:55 on 5 Oct | 02:08 on 6 Oct |
| Tue 6 Oct 2026 | Krishna Ekadashi | 02:08 on 6 Oct | 00:36 on 7 Oct |
| Wed 7 Oct 2026 | Krishna Dwadashi | 00:36 on 7 Oct | 23:20 on 7 Oct |
| Thu 8 Oct 2026 | Krishna Trayodashi | 23:20 on 7 Oct | 22:23 on 8 Oct |
| Fri 9 Oct 2026 | Krishna Chaturdashi | 22:23 on 8 Oct | 21:45 on 9 Oct |
| Sat 10 Oct 2026 | Amavasya | 21:45 on 9 Oct | 21:30 on 10 Oct |
Computed 2026-09-24 · dates resolved for New Delhi, IST — the reference meridian printed panchangs use. The same tithi can resolve to a different civil date elsewhere on Earth.
The table above gives the computed dates: the fortnight opens on Bhadrapada Purnima and closes on Mahalaya (Sarva Pitru) Amavasya, both resolved for the New Delhi meridian.
The tithi on which the person died, counted within Pitru Paksha. A death on Krishna Panchami is observed on the Panchami Shraddha; if the tithi is unknown, use Sarva Pitru Amavasya.
Kutup muhurat, the eighth muhurta after sunrise (around 11:30 to 12:30), followed by Rohina muhurat. Afternoon (Aparahna) is the classical window; Shraddha is not performed after sunset.
Yes. Tarpan (water with black sesame, facing south) and a simple offering of food can be done at home. Pinda daan at a tirtha such as Gaya is traditional but not required every year.
New purchases, weddings and griha pravesh are traditionally avoided. Daily work, existing commitments and religious study continue as normal.
Positions from the shared Lahiri-sidereal ephemeris; sunrise by the NOAA solar calculator. Every date above is computed, not stored. How AskSoma computes things.
Shraddha is the rite offered to ancestors (pitru). The main observance falls in Pitru Paksha, the fortnight of the waning Moon in the lunar month of Bhadrapada — sixteen tithis running from the Purnima to the Amavasya known as Sarva Pitru Amavasya or Mahalaya Amavasya.
The rite is performed on the tithi matching the ancestor's date of death, not on a fixed calendar date. Where the tithi is unknown, Sarva Pitru Amavasya on the final day covers all ancestors, which is why it draws the largest observance of the fortnight.
Shraddha is traditionally performed during Aparahna kaal — the fourth of the five equal parts of the daylight period, roughly early to mid afternoon — rather than in the morning used for most other rites. Kutup and Rauhina muhurats within that window are considered the most suitable.
Because tithis begin and end at points in the day rather than at midnight, the correct date for a given tithi shifts by location. Dates on this page are computed per the Lahiri ayanamsa against local sunrise.
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Written by Savan Vyas, founder of AskSoma.
The astrology is not written from memory: every chart position, dasha period and panchang timing AskSoma shows is computed with the Swiss Ephemeris on the Lahiri (Chitrapaksha) ayanamsa. How we calculate.