Pitru Paksha Amavasya 2026 today: Is it on October 9 or 10? Check correct date, Shraddha timings, rituals and significance

Pitru Paksha Amavasya 2026 Today: Sarva Pitru Amavasya, also known as Mahalaya Amavasya or Amavasya Shraddha, is being observed on Friday, October 9, 2026. It marks the final day of Pitru Paksha, the Hindu period dedicated to remembering and paying homage to deceased ancestors. According to Drik Panchang, Amavasya Shraddha is particularly significant for families who wish to perform ancestral rites for relatives whose death anniversary is unknown or whose Shraddha could not be performed on the appropriate lunar date. The day is traditionally observed through Shraddha rituals, Tarpan, Pinda Daan, prayers and charitable acts for the peace of departed souls.

Sarva Pitru Amavasya 2026 date and Pitru Paksha Amavasya timings

According to Drik Panchang, the important timings for Amavasya Shraddha on October 9 are as follows:

• Date: Friday, October 9, 2026
• Amavasya Tithi begins: 11:05 am on October 9, 2026
• Amavasya Tithi ends: 10:49 am on October 10, 2026
• Kutup Muhurat: 12:48 pm to 1:34 pm
• Rohina Muhurat: 1:34 pm to 2:20 pm
• Aparahna Kaal: 2:20 pm to 4:38 pm

The Kutup and Rohina Muhurats are traditionally considered suitable periods for performing Shraddha rituals. The prescribed observance also extends into Aparahna Kaal, according to the Hindu ritual calendar.


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What is Sarva Pitru Amavasya?

Sarva Pitru Amavasya is the concluding lunar day of Pitru Paksha, when Hindus perform rituals to honour their ancestors. The word Sarva Pitru refers to all ancestors, reflecting the day's significance for remembering deceased family members, including those whose details may not be known.

According to Hindu religious beliefs, performing Shraddha on this day is particularly beneficial for families who do not know the exact lunar date on which an ancestor died. It also provides an opportunity to perform ancestral rites for relatives whose Shraddha was missed during Pitru Paksha.

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Drik Panchang notes that Amavasya Tithi Shraddha is performed for deceased family members who died on Amavasya, Purnima or Chaturdashi Tithi. If a family is unable to perform Shraddha on every relevant lunar date, the Amavasya observance is traditionally considered an option for honouring multiple ancestors.

Why is Mahalaya Amavasya significant?

Sarva Pitru Amavasya is also known as Mahalaya Amavasya. In Hindu tradition, Pitru Paksha is regarded as a period for expressing gratitude to ancestors and praying for the peace of their souls.

According to religious beliefs, ancestors visit the earthly realm during Pitru Paksha and depart at its conclusion on Amavasya. Shraddha, Tarpan and Pinda Daan are performed as offerings to honour them.

The Garuda Purana is associated with traditional beliefs about ancestral rites and the significance of performing Shraddha when the exact death anniversary of a family member is unknown. Observing Sarva Pitru Amavasya is therefore considered an important way to remember known and unknown ancestors.

The day is also significant for families seeking to perform collective Shraddha for relatives who died without descendants or whose final rites may not have been performed according to tradition.

Sarva Pitru Amavasya Shraddha rituals

Shraddha rituals are performed according to family traditions and religious customs. Common observances include the following:

• Shraddha: Families perform prescribed rites to express reverence and gratitude towards deceased ancestors. These rituals may be conducted with the assistance of a priest.
• Tarpan: Water offerings, often made with black sesame seeds, are offered to ancestors as part of the traditional observance.
• Pinda Daan: Rice-based offerings, known as Pindas, are made as part of ancestral rites according to the family's customs.
• Feeding Brahmins: Offering food to Brahmins is traditionally considered an auspicious act during Shraddha observances.
• Charity and donations: Donating food, clothes and other essentials is considered meritorious on this day.
• Prayers and recitation: Devotees may recite religious texts, including the Shrimad Bhagavad Gita and Vishnu Sahasranama, and offer prayers for the peace of their ancestors.

The specific rituals and their sequence can vary according to regional customs, family traditions and guidance from religious authorities.

What should devotees donate on Sarva Pitru Amavasya?

Charitable acts are an important part of the traditional observance. Devotees may donate food, clothes and other necessities to people in need. Offering sesame seeds, feeding cows with green fodder and providing water at wells or other water sources are also regarded as auspicious in some traditions. Lighting a diya and praying for the peace of departed ancestors are other common practices associated with the day.

These acts are performed as expressions of devotion, remembrance and generosity rather than as a guarantee of any particular material benefit.

Sarva Pitru Amavasya and the beginning of Navratri celebrations

Mahalaya Amavasya also has cultural significance in West Bengal, where Mahalaya is associated with the beginning of the festive season leading up to Durga Puja.

According to popular Hindu belief, Goddess Durga's arrival on Earth is associated with this occasion. The day is marked by prayers and devotional traditions that look ahead to the celebrations of Durga Puja and Navratri.

While Sarva Pitru Amavasya concludes the period of ancestral observances, it also marks a transition towards the festive season in several parts of India.

Spiritual significance of Sarva Pitru Amavasya

Sarva Pitru Amavasya is regarded as an opportunity to remember family members who have passed away and acknowledge their place in the family's history. Through Shraddha, Tarpan, prayers and charitable acts, devotees seek to express gratitude and pray for the peace of their ancestors.

According to Hindu beliefs, performing these rituals with devotion helps fulfil one's Pitru Rina, or ancestral debt, and is associated with family well-being, prosperity and peace of mind.

The observance ultimately serves as a reminder of the importance of honouring ancestors and preserving family traditions across generations.