Pitru Paksha: Significance, Time and Origin!

Related Topics:Rituals and TraditionsShraadh

Sanatan Hindu followers celebrate every moment of life, be it birth or death! We make sure that every moment is etched in our lives in a way that continues to keep us bound in the cycle of life from one birth to the next. Even before a child is born, many samskaras are observed, and then right after birth, there are multiple samskaras. For us, every event in life is important and we believe there is life after death. This is the reason, we have a tradition of

Pitru Paksha or Shraadh, which Sanatan Hindus practice to offer their respect and show their gratitude to the souls of their ancestors so that the departed souls can attain Brahmalok and prepare for their next journey peacefully. In Sanatan Hindu dharma, it is believed, that descendants of a person must pay respect to their departed soul after their death. And if this is practised strictly with devotion, the descendants receive blessings in abundance from both their forefathers and God! 

Date of Pitru Paksha 2023

Pitru Paksha or Shraadh, a 16-lunar-day period in the Hindu calendar starts on September 29 this year. The Pitru Paksha period starts on the full moon day of the Bhadrapada month and continues until the Pratipada of Krishna Paksha in the Ashwin month. This year, Pitru Paksha will start from 29h September 2023 (Friday) till 14th October 2023.

• Purnima Shradh Date 2023 – 29th September 2023 (Friday)
• Pratipada Shradh Date 2023 – 29th September 2023 (Friday)
• Dwitiya Shradh or Dooj Shradh Date 2023 – 30th September 2023 (Saturday)
• Tritiya Shradh Date 2023 – 1st October 2023 (Sunday)
• Chaturthi Shradh and Maha Bharani Shradh Date 2023 – 2nd October 2023 (Monday)
• Panchami Shradh Date 2023 – 3rd October 2023 (Tuesday)
• Shashti Shradh Date 2023 – 4th October 2023 (Wednesday)
• Saptami Shradh Date 2023 – 5th October 2023 (Thursday)
• Ashtami Shradh Date 2023 – 6th October 2023 (Friday)
• Navami Shradh Date 2023 – 7th October 2023 (Saturday)
• Dashmi Shradh Date 2023 – 8th October 2023 (Sunday)
• Ekadashi Shradh Date 2023 – 9th October 2023 (Monday)
• Dwadashi Shradh or Magha Shradh Date 2023 – 11th October 2023 (Tuesday)
• Trayodashi Shradh Date 2023 – 12th October 2023 (Wednesday)
• Chaturdashi Shradh Date 2023 – 13th October 2023 (Thursday)
• Sarva Pitru Amavasya or Amavasya Shradh Date 2023 – 14th October 2023 (Friday

People offer prayers, food and water to their ancestors from this day till the day of Mahalaya. They can decide on the Shraadh puja day by consulting an astrologer or pandit. 

Significance of Pitru Paksha

Hindus believe that the departed souls after leaving the body continue to feel the attachment to worldly things and hence wander in the Pitru Lok (a space between heaven and earth). The Shraadh puja or Pitru Dev Puja is a must through Shraadh rituals during Pitru Paksha to free their souls and help them travel to ‘Brahmaloka’.

As per Brahmpurana, people must worship their ancestors before worshipping the Gods, because according to Hindu belief, this pleases the Gods too. The reason, the elders are honoured and worshipped after death by Sanatan Hindus. 

Pitru Paksha is a time to introspect, meditate and seek blessings. People also offer food and donate clothes and other necessities to the needy on the Pitru Paksha Shraadh in memory of the departed souls. This is the time to pay homage to the forefathers or ancestors and also seek their blessings for a happy and prosperous future. 

Tarpan Rituals 

Tarpan is a significant ritual during Pitru Paksha in which water mixed with black sesame seeds, flowers, food and other offerings are offered to the ancestors while reciting Shraadh mantras. These offerings are in the form of Shraadh which is to be performed on the tithi (date) of death, falling in Pitrupaksha. If the tithi is not known, then Ashwin Amavasya or Sarva Pitru Amavasya is the day when one can perform Tarpan. On Shraadh we remember our ancestors by doing Tarpan and offering food and Dakshina to Brahmins or needy people.

Ashwin Amavasya or Sarva Pitru Amavasya is also known as Mahalaya Amavasya, which is also the beginning of Devi Paksha and the festival of Navratri, Dussehra and Durga Puja. If you are unable to perform Shraadh on a specific tithi/day, Mahalaya Amavashya is the day to perform Shraadh.

Usually, it is the eldest male member of a family who performs the Shraddh. The person who performs Shraadh has to wear a ring of kush grass to perform the ritual. It can be performed at home, however, some people prefer to perform it in the most auspicious locations like Gaya, Prayag, Pushkar, Varanasi, Rameswaram, Kapal Mochan, Nasik, Haridwar and many other places.

Origin of Pitru Paksha

The origin of Pitru Paksha goes back to Mahabharat time and is linked with Karna. As per the scriptures, after his death when he reached heaven, he was offered gold and jewels to eat. When Karna asked Indradev why he was not offered real food. Indra replied that Danveer Karna had always donated gold to people and never offered food to his ancestors.

Karna, who was an adopted child, said that he was not aware of his ancestors. So, to get rid of this sin, he was allowed to return to earth for a fortnight to perform the Shraadh rites. And henceforth, this fortnight period came to be known as Pitru Paksha.   

Pitru Paksha is considered to be an inauspicious period by Hindus or a time to dedicate to remembering and paying homage to the forefathers. Devout Hindus abstain from purchasing luxury items during this time of the year. 

For more information on Shraadh tithi and rituals talk to our astrologers and pandits here.