Pitru Paksha (Shraddh)

Pitru Paksha is the dark half of Bhadrapada in amanta calendars, which purnimanta calendars call the dark half of Ashwin; it is the same fortnight. It usually spans about 16 days, from Bhadrapada Purnima to Sarva Pitru Amavasya, also called Mahalaya Amavasya. In Bengal, Mahalaya also opens Devi Paksha and the countdown to Durga Puja.

Each family performs shraddha, offering food, water (tarpan) and pinda, on the tithi on which a parent or ancestor passed away, whatever the calendar date. Those who don’t know the tithi, or wish to honour all ancestors together, do so on Sarva Pitru Amavasya. Feeding Brahmins, cows, crows and people in need is part of the tradition.

Because the fortnight belongs to the ancestors, many families defer weddings, griha pravesh and major purchases until it ends, and our Muhurat finder leaves it out for business openings and for buying a vehicle, property or gold. It is a sacred, grateful time rather than an inauspicious one, and Navratri begins the very next day.