Pitrupaksha 2025 Dates: When does the Shraddha Month Begin and End This Year? Check the Complete Pitru Paksha Shraddha Calendar

Pitru Paksha 2025: When Does Shradh Start – September 7 or 8? Check Dates, Timings and Significance

Pitru Paksha is one of the most important periods in the Hindu calendar, it is observed to honour ancestors through rituals like Shradh and Tarpan. This 16-day period also known as Sorah Shraddha, Mahalaya, Apara Paksha, and Pitarpas, is regarded as spiritually powerful yet inauspicious because it involves death rites and offerings for departed souls. In 2025, Pitru Paksha will begin on September 7 and conclude on September 21 with Sarvapitri Amavasya (Mahalaya Amavasya).

Pitru Paksha 2025 Start and End Date

Pitru Paksha 2025: Significance

Pitru Paksha is considered a sacred time when it is believed that the souls of ancestors descend to Earth to accept food and offerings from their descendants. Performing Shradh during this period helps reduce Pitru Rin (ancestral debt) and brings blessings, peace, and guidance from departed souls. Families observe these rituals with devotion, seeking spiritual merit and expressing gratitude towards their forefathers.

Pitru Paksha Rituals

The rituals of Pitru Paksha vary across India but generally include:

• Usually performed by the eldest son, beginning with a purification bath.
• Simple meals like rice, dal, and vegetables are offered to Brahmins.
• Offering water mixed with sesame seeds while reciting prayers.
• Donating clothes, food, and feeding cows, dogs, and crows is considered auspicious.

While Pitru Paksha is observed across India, some regions hold special significance:

• Gaya, Bihar: Considered the most sacred place to perform Shradh. Devotees gather at the Ganga ghats for Pitru Tarpan, believing it grants higher spiritual merit.
• Southern & Western India: Observed in the second half of Bhadrapada after Ganesh Utsav.
• North India: Special prayers are offered along riverbanks and temples dedicated to ancestors.

This period reminds people of their duty towards their ancestors. By performing Shradh and Tarpan, families not only express gratitude but also seek blessings for health, prosperity, and happiness. Despite being considered inauspicious for new beginnings like marriages or housewarming, Pitru Paksha is deeply spiritual and holds immense significance in Hindu tradition.