What is Shraddha?
Shraddha (from Sanskrit shraddha, meaning faith and devotion) is the sacred Hindu ceremony of honouring departed ancestors (Pitru). It involves offering food, water, and prayers to the deceased on the anniversary of their passing — calculated by the Hindu lunar calendar, not the Gregorian date. The belief is that performing Shraddha on the correct tithi allows the offerings to reach the departed soul, bringing them peace and earning blessings for the living family.
Why Tithis Matter for Shraddha
The Shraddha date follows the lunar tithi (phase of the Moon) on which the person passed away, not the Western calendar date. Since the lunar month does not align with the Gregorian month, the Shraddha date shifts every year. For example, if someone passed on Krishna Panchami (the 5th tithi of the dark fortnight), their annual Shraddha falls on every recurring Krishna Panchami — which could land on different Gregorian dates each year. This is why a Shraddha tithi calculator is essential for families.
Pitru Paksha — The Annual Ancestor Period
Pitru Paksha is the 16-day period from Purnima to Amavasya in Bhadrapada month (September–October). During this time, the boundary between the ancestral realm and the earthly realm is believed to be at its thinnest, making Shraddha rituals especially powerful. Pitru Paksha 2026 is estimated to fall around 22 September – 6 October 2026 (Krishna Paksha of Bhadrapada/Ashwina). Each of the 16 days corresponds to a specific tithi, and families perform Shraddha on the day matching their ancestor's death tithi.
How to Perform Shraddha
Traditional Shraddha involves cooking specific foods (kheer/rice pudding, plain rice, dal, black sesame), offering them to ancestors, feeding Brahmins or those in need, and chanting mantras. The ideal time is during Kutapa Kaal (midday, approximately 11:36 AM to 12:24 PM local time). If an elaborate ritual is not possible, even a simple tarpana (water offering with black sesame) performed with sincere remembrance is considered meaningful and effective.
Which Tithi Should You Choose?
From Pratipada (1st) to Amavasya (30th) — select the tithi on which the ancestor passed away. If the death tithi is unknown, Sarva Pitru Amavasya (the final day of Pitru Paksha) is the universal date when Shraddha can be performed for all ancestors regardless of their death tithi. Use the calculator below: select the death paksha and tithi, and we will compute this year's and next year's Gregorian dates for you.