Every year, after the festive season begins to slow down, there comes a quieter and more reflective period in the Hindu calendar — Pitru Paksha, also known as Shraddha Paksha.

In Rajasthan, this period has always felt different from other festivals to me. There are no grand celebrations or loud decorations. Instead, the focus turns towards remembering our ancestors, offering food and water, and following traditions that have been passed down through generations.

Growing up, I have seen Pitru Paksha at home not simply as a religious period, but as a time when the family remembers those who are no longer with us.

In 2026, the main Pitru Paksha period begins with Pratipada Shraddha on September 27 and ends with Sarva Pitru Amavasya on October 10. Purnima Shraddha falls on September 26, which is why some calendars may show September 26 as the beginning of the Shraddha period. It is useful to distinguish Purnima Shraddha from the main Krishna Paksha sequence.

What Is Pitru Paksha?

Pitru Paksha is a period traditionally dedicated to remembering and paying respect to departed ancestors.

The word Pitru refers to ancestors, while Shraddha is associated with performing rituals and offerings with faith and respect.

During these days, families perform Shraddha according to the tithi associated with the passing of an ancestor. Food, water and other offerings are made as part of these traditions.

The rituals can be different from one family to another. In Rajasthan, too, the way families observe Pitru Paksha can vary depending on their community, family tradition and local customs.

For me, the most meaningful part has always been the idea behind it — remembering the people who came before us and keeping their memories alive through simple family traditions.

Why Is It Called a 15-Day Shraddha Paksha?

Pitru Paksha is commonly described as a 15-day period of Shraddha.

The main sequence begins with Pratipada and continues through the lunar tithis until Amavasya. Different tithis are associated with Shraddha for ancestors who passed away on those particular dates.

In 2026, the main dates are:

September 26 is Purnima Shraddha, observed before the main Pitru Paksha sequence.

If you are observing a particular ancestor's Shraddha, the exact tithi is important, so it is best to follow your family tradition or consult your family priest.

What Happens During Pitru Paksha at My Home?

This is the part of Pitru Paksha that feels most personal to me.

Growing up, I have seen this period being observed at home in a very simple but meaningful way. On the day of Shraddha, the morning begins with a bath and preparations for the food that will be offered.

Food is prepared with care. In our family tradition, dishes such as kheer, malpua, mixed vegetable sabzi and puris are prepared.

There is something very different about cooking during Pitru Paksha. It is not just about preparing a meal for the family. There is a feeling that the food is first being prepared as an offering, with the memory of our ancestors in mind.

A kheer bhog is also offered, along with the traditional food prepared for the occasion.

After the offerings, a separate plate of food is kept on the rooftop for a crow.

In our traditional belief, the crow is associated with the ancestors, and when a crow comes and eats the food, it is considered a sign that the offering has been accepted by the Pitrs.

Of course, this is a religious and cultural belief, not something that can be scientifically established. But when you grow up seeing the same tradition being followed by your family, it becomes a deeply familiar part of the way you understand Pitru Paksha.

Why Is Food Offered to a Crow?

The crow has a special place in many Shraddha traditions.

Families traditionally offer food to a crow because it is believed to represent or carry the offering to the ancestors.

This is why you may see people waiting quietly after placing the food outside or on a rooftop.

For someone unfamiliar with the tradition, it may simply look like feeding a bird. But culturally, there is a deeper meaning attached to it — the food is being offered in remembrance of one's ancestors.

Feeding Brahmins and Offering Food

Another tradition I have seen during Shraddha is inviting Pandits or Brahmins for a meal after the offerings and rituals.

The food prepared for Shraddha is served respectfully, as part of the family's tradition of making offerings in memory of their ancestors.

In our family, sisters and daughters are also invited for food in the evening.

This is something I particularly remember because the thought behind it is beautiful — the belief that the food offered and eaten during the day should symbolically reach the ancestors through these acts of sharing and feeding.

These customs can differ between families, so there is no single way in which every household observes Pitru Paksha.

What Food Is Prepared During Pitru Paksha?

There is no universal menu for Shraddha because food traditions vary according to family and community.

In my experience, some of the traditional food prepared at home includes:

• Kheer

• Malpua

• Puri

• Mixed vegetable sabzi

• Other simple homemade dishes according to the family tradition

The important part is not the number of dishes but the feeling of offering and remembrance behind the meal.

The food is prepared with care, first offered as part of the Shraddha tradition and then shared with others.

What Is Pind Daan?

Pind Daan is another important ancestral ritual associated with Hindu traditions.

Pind refers to an offering, traditionally made using ingredients such as rice and other prescribed materials. It is offered as part of rituals performed for departed ancestors.

Pind Daan is especially associated with pilgrimage places such as Gaya, although ancestral rituals are also performed at other sacred places.

The exact rituals and procedures vary, so anyone planning Pind Daan should follow the guidance of their family priest or the priest at the pilgrimage site.

What Is Sarva Pitru Amavasya?

The final and especially significant day of Pitru Paksha is Sarva Pitru Amavasya, also known as Amavasya Shraddha.

In 2026, it falls on October 10.

It is traditionally considered an important day for offering Shraddha to ancestors.

For families who do not know the exact tithi of an ancestor's passing, Amavasya Shraddha has particular importance in traditional practice.

This is also the day when the Pitru Paksha period comes to an end.

Pitru Paksha in Rajasthan

Rajasthan has a strong tradition of family rituals, ancestral remembrance and temple culture, and Pitru Paksha naturally becomes part of this cultural landscape.

In Rajasthan and Mewar, these traditions are not limited to elaborate ceremonies. Much of what I have seen is actually very simple — preparing food at home, making offerings, feeding others and remembering family members who are no longer present.

That simplicity is what makes the period meaningful to me.

It reminds me that festivals are not always about celebration. Sometimes, they are about remembering.

What Should You Do During Pitru Paksha?

The exact practices depend on your family tradition, but commonly observed practices include:

• Performing Shraddha on the appropriate tithi

• Offering water to the ancestors

• Preparing traditional food as part of the ritual

• Offering food to a crow according to family tradition

• Feeding Brahmins or Pandits

• Sharing food with family members and others

• Performing Pind Daan where traditionally appropriate

• Remembering ancestors with respect and gratitude

Some families also keep their lifestyle particularly simple during this period.

There can be different rules regarding food, religious activities, purchases, ceremonies and auspicious events. These should not be treated as universal rules because customs vary considerably between families and communities.

Can You Start Something New During Pitru Paksha?

You may hear different opinions about starting new work, buying things, travelling, celebrations or other activities during Pitru Paksha.

Some families prefer to keep this period quiet and avoid certain auspicious ceremonies, while others follow their own traditions.

There is no need to treat every rule heard from others as applicable to every household. If something is important to your family, it is better to follow your family's established tradition or ask your family priest.

For me, the heart of Pitru Paksha has never been about fear or a long list of restrictions. It has been about respect, remembrance and feeding others in the name of our ancestors.

A Quiet Tradition I Have Grown Up With

When I think about Pitru Paksha, I don't first think about dates on a calendar.

I remember the preparations at home.

I remember waking up, taking a bath and seeing the food being prepared. Kheer, malpua, puris and sabzi would be made with care. The food would be offered, and a plate would be kept on the rooftop for the crow.

Then came the waiting.

The simple act of seeing a crow come and eat the food carried a meaning that I understood through the traditions of my family.

Later, Pandits or Brahmins would be served food, and in the evening, sisters and daughters would be invited to eat.

As a child, I may not have understood every ritual or its meaning. But growing up, I have come to understand that these traditions are one way families keep their connection with those who are no longer physically with them.

That is what makes Pitru Paksha personal for me.

It is not only about rituals. It is about remembering where we come from and the people whose lives became part of our family's story.

Pitru Paksha 2026: Important Dates at a Glance

• September 26, 2026 — Purnima Shraddha

• September 27, 2026 — Pratipada Shraddha

• September 28 — Dwitiya

• September 29 — Tritiya

• September 30 — Chaturthi

• October 1 — Panchami & Shashthi

• October 2 — Saptami

• October 3 — Ashtami

• October 4 — Navami

• October 5 — Dashami

• October 6 — Ekadashi

• October 7 — Dwadashi

• October 8 — Trayodashi

• October 9 — Chaturdashi

• October 10, 2026 — Sarva Pitru Amavasya

Frequently Asked Questions

When does Pitru Paksha begin in 2026?

The main Pitru Paksha sequence begins on September 27, 2026, with Pratipada Shraddha. Purnima Shraddha is observed on September 26.

When does Pitru Paksha end in 2026?

Pitru Paksha ends with Sarva Pitru Amavasya on October 10, 2026.

Why is Pitru Paksha observed?

It is observed as a period for remembering and paying respect to departed ancestors through Shraddha, offerings, food and other traditional rituals.

Why is a crow fed during Shraddha?

In traditional belief, the crow is associated with the ancestors, so offering food to a crow is considered part of the ancestral offering in many families.

What food is prepared during Pitru Paksha?

Food varies by family and community. In my family tradition, dishes such as kheer, malpua, puri and mixed vegetable sabzi are prepared.

Is Pind Daan compulsory for everyone?

No single ritual should be assumed to be compulsory for every family. Pind Daan and other practices depend on family tradition, local customs and the guidance followed by the family.

Can the exact Shraddha date vary?

Yes. Shraddha is traditionally connected with the tithi of an ancestor's passing, and local calendars and family traditions can affect how the observance is followed. For an exact ritual date and timing, check with your family priest.

Remembering Our Ancestors

Pitru Paksha arrives quietly.

There are no loud celebrations, no colourful decorations and no festive excitement like many other Hindu festivals.

Instead, there is food prepared with care, prayers, offerings, family traditions and memories.

For me, that is what makes these days meaningful.

The traditions I have seen at home — from preparing kheer and malpua to keeping a plate for the crow, feeding Pandits and inviting sisters and daughters for food — have taught me that remembering our ancestors can be expressed through very simple acts.

Pitru Paksha is, ultimately, a time to pause, remember and be grateful for the generations that came before us.

Written by Pragya Puri Goswami
Founder | LakeCity Blog

Exploring Rajasthan through real stories, heritage, local businesses, food, and unforgettable travel experiences.