A Complete Guide to Pitru Paksha 2026

During the sacred fortnight of Pitra Paksha (Pitru Paksh 2026), it is natural to have questions about rituals, customs, and ancient traditions. What all can I eat during Pitru Paksh? Can women perform Shraadh rites? Can I get a haircut or not?

To clear your doubts and guide you through this sacred period, we have answered some of the most frequently asked questions about Pitru Paksh, supported by authentic scriptural references. Read on to discover the answers!

Highlights of the Blog:

• When does Pitru Paksha 2026 begin?
• Is Pitru Paksh inauspicious?
• Can I eat non-vegetarian food during Pitru Paksh?
• What foods should we avoid during Pitru Paksh?
• Why are kheer and puri traditionally offered during Shraadh?
• Can we cut hair in Pitru Paksh?
• Can we go to the temple during Pitru Paksh?
• What happens if a baby is born in Pitru Paksh?
• What happens when someone dies during Pitru Paksh?
• Can women perform Shraadh?
• What are some good things to do during Pitru Paksh?

When does Pitru Paksha 2026 begin?

Pitru Paksha 2026 officially begins on Sunday, 27 September 2026 and concludes on Saturday, 10 October 2026 with Sarva Pitru Amavasya. The Purnima Shraadh will be performed on September 26, 2026. On this day, shradh rituals are performed for ancestors who passed away on the Purnima tithi (full moon day). However, Pitru Paksha, which officially starts from Pratipada tithi, will begin on September 27.

Is Pitru Paksh Inauspicious?

Pitru Paksh is not  unlucky or inauspicious by its nature. However, it is a devoted time for performing rituals like shraadh and tarpan. Because the period is entirely dedicated to honouring deceased ancestors, many families avoid festive activities or starting something new.

During this time, celebrations such as weddings, housewarming parties (Griha Pravesh), buying property or vehicles, signing contracts, or starting a new business are avoided. This is because the energy and focus of these 16 days are meant for ancestors, and not for starting new projects or performing mangal karya (auspicious activities).

Can I Eat Non-Vegetarian Food During Pitru Paksh?

During Pitru Paksh, it is traditionally advised to avoid non-vegetarian food, especially for the one who performs Shraadh. The primary reason is to maintain Sattvic purity. Non-vegetarian food, along with onion and garlic, is categorised Tamasic (foods that cause heaviness or impurity) and kept out of the diet to maintain bodily and mental purity.

Additionally, we offer this food to ancestors, deities, crows, and other living beings. Traditionally, these offerings must be Sattvic (pure vegetarian), as consuming non-vegetarian food violates ritual purity. Shrimad Bhagwat Puran, Canto 7 (15.7) states that a person who knows dharm should never offer meat, eggs or fish in the shraadh ceremony.

While a few regional communities (such as certain families in Bengal, Assam, or Odisha) may follow different hereditary customs that include specific fish or non-vegetarian offerings, the general rule across mainstream Hindu tradition is to avoid non-vegetarian food throughout the 16 days.

What Foods Should We Avoid During Pitru Paksh?

As a general rule, families cook fresh food daily. They offer the first portion to ancestors, Brahmins, cows, crows, and other living beings, according to family custom, before eating. Tamasic food is avoided. It includes:

• Non-Vegetarian Food: All forms of meat, chicken, fish, seafood, and eggs.
• Tamasic Ingredients: Onions, garlic, and excessively hot or pungent spices.
• Pulses: Red lentils (masoor dal), black chana, urad dal, rajma, and chickpeas are tamasic and cause dullness.
• Vegetables: Brinjal (eggplant), mushrooms (associated with decay and impurity) and root vegetables such as radish (mooli), beetroots, and carrots are avoided.
• Intoxicants & Processed Foods: Alcohol, tobacco, stale or leftover food, and packaged junk food. 

Note: While these are the general mainstream guidelines, specific dietary rules can vary slightly based on regional traditions and family customs.

Why Are Kheer and Puri Traditionally Offered During Shraadh?

Kheer and Puri are considered pure and Sattvic food, as Kheer is made from cow's milk, and Puris are traditionally made in cow's ghee. In Vedic scriptures, milk and ghee are considered pure and capable of cleansing spiritual impurities. Rice (Akshat) symbolises wholeness, eternity, and prosperity. Offering rice in the form of Kheer signifies a wish for the family line to remain eternal and prosperous.

In traditional Hindu dietary rules, food is categorised into Kachha Khana (water-boiled foods like plain rotis or lentils) and Pakka Khana (foods fried in ghee or oil, such as Puris). Pakka Khana is considered less likely to get spoilt during long ceremonies. It remains pure and fresh longer when served to priests (Brahman Bhoj) and set aside for animals (cows, crows, and dogs).

It is also believed that ancestors (Pitrus) receive nourishment through the satisfaction (Tripti) of those who eat the Shraadh meal, especially priests, crows, cows, and the needy. Kheer and Puri represent a rich, nourishing, and celebratory feast rather than everyday food, serving as a gesture of deep respect, love, and gratitude toward elders.

Furthermore, Pitru Paksh occurs during the transition from monsoon to autumn (Sharad Ritu). According to Ayurved, the body’s Pitta (heat and acidity) naturally increases during this seasonal shift. Kheer acts as a natural cooling agent that calms Pitta, soothes the stomach, and provides clean energy. Combining sweet, cooling milk with whole wheat balances the digestive system during this specific time of year. 

Can We Cut Hair in Pitru Paksh?

Traditionally, it is advised to avoid haircuts, shaving, or trimming nails during Pitru Paksh, especially for the person performing Shraadh or Tarpan.

Ancient texts like the Grihya Sutras, Puranas, and Muhurta Shastra refer to these acts as Kshaur Karma (or Kshoura Karma). They are not only linked to personal hygiene, but are considered sacred rituals for physical and spiritual purification. It is believed that avoiding such acts helps practitioners focus on honouring their ancestors through the Shraadh rites.

That is why most individuals prefer to cut their hair and nails right before Pitru Paksh begins. If you don’t perform rites but wish to follow common custom, avoid it during these 16 days, or at minimum avoid it when you have a Shraadh day in your family.

Note: Head shaving (Mundan) done specifically as part of a sacred ancestral ritual at pilgrimage sites like Gaya or Prayagraj is an exception, because it is performed for spiritual purification rather than personal grooming. 

Can We Go to Temple During Pitru Paksh?

Yes, you can visit temples during Pitru Paksh. There is no restriction on visiting temples, taking darshan, or offering daily prayers during this period.

The idea that temple visits are avoided comes from confusing restrictions on major celebrations or Mangalik Karya like weddings and griha pravesh with regular prayers. So, visit the temples for quiet prayer rather than organising grand festive offerings. It is recommended to perform family shraadh rites first before visiting a temple. Sacred pilgrimage sites connected to ancestor liberation (Moksha) such as Gaya (Bihar), Varanasi and Prayagraj in U.P., or Trimbakeshwar in Maharashtra are considered especially auspicious.

What Happens if a Baby is Born in Pitru Paksh?

Traditional belief treats it as auspicious and a sign of ancestral blessing, often saying the child is specially favoured by the pitrus (forefathers).

In Hindu tradition and Vedic astrology, birth during this sacred period is considered an auspicious event and a blessing for the family. A baby born in this period is said to carry the special kripa (grace) of the ancestors. Traditional beliefs often say an ancestor’s soul returns to the same family through that child, to fulfil remaining duties or bless the family.

Such children are described as fortunate, creative, emotionally sensitive, family‑oriented, and likely to bring happiness and prosperity to the household.

When a child is born, the family enters a standard 10-to-12-day period of birth-related ritual restriction called Sutak. During Sutak, the immediate family pauses active religious rituals and Shraadh offerings. Instead, they ask extended family members or a priest to perform these duties until the period ends.

Families often delay celebrations such as Namkaran samskar (naming ceremony), cradle ceremony, annaprashan, etc., and conduct them after Pitru Paksh ends. However, daily newborn care, first bath, basic home prayers, and medical needs continue as usual.

What Happens When Someone Dies During Pitru Paksh?

Traditional belief holds that a natural death in this period is considered auspicious, with the soul receiving ancestral grace. Antyeshti, or last rites, are performed as usual.

Scriptures such as Garuda Puran, Agni Puran and Brahma Puran mention that departed ancestors come spiritually closer to Earth during this time. Additionally, the gates of Pitru Loka (the ancestral realm) are open throughout this period. The newly departed soul is said to be received with grace and guided smoothly into the ancestral realm.

Scriptures such as the Garuda Purana, Agni Purana, and Brahma Purana mention that departed ancestors come spiritually closer to Earth during this time. Additionally, the gates of Pitru Loka (the ancestral realm) are open throughout this period. The newly departed soul is said to be received with love and guided easily into the ancestral realm.

Since death occurs during Pitru Paksh, the person's annual death anniversary (Shraadh Tithi) will always naturally fall within Pitru Paksh every single year. This ensures that their Shraadh rites are regularly performed during this time.

A death in the family brings a mandatory 10-to-13-day mourning period known as Pataka or Sutak. During these days, the immediate family must pause all regular Pitru Paksh Shraadh rituals for other ancestors. Once the 13 days of mourning and rituals for the newly deceased are completed, the family can resume normal activities. If Pitru Paksh ends during the mourning period, the family can perform a combined offering for other ancestors on Sarva Pitru Amavasya (if it falls after Sutak) or on other prescribed days like Ekadashi.

Can Women Perform Shraadh? 

Yes, women can perform Shraadh. Sanatan Hindu scriptures clearly state that women have the right and authority to perform ancestral rites, Pinda Daan, and Tarpan. If a son is absent or unable to fulfil these duties, the rituals can be performed by a daughter, daughter-in-law, or the widow.

According to the Garuda Puran Saroddhara (Chapter 11, Shloka 13), in the absence of a son, the daughter-in-law should perform the last rites. Further, Chapter 12, Shloka 71 of the same text states that Sri Hari Vishnu considers a woman to be a devoted wife if she performs her deceased husband’s afterlife rites (Aurdhvadaihika), annual Shraadh (Kshayahah), and fortnightly Shraadh (Pakshika or Mahalaya Shraadh).

A popular local narrative states that Ma Sita performed the Shraadh for her father-in-law, King Dasharath, on the banks of the Phalgu River in Gaya when Sri Ram and Sri Lakshman were delayed in collecting ritual items. It is said that King Dasarath appeared and, refusing to wait for his sons, requested the Pinda directly from Ma Sita. The site where this took place came to be known as Sita Kund, which is situated directly opposite the famous Shri Vishnupad Temple in Gaya, Bihar.

In Hindu philosophy, the sincerity, devotion (bhav), and love of the person offering the rites matter far more than gender. Ancestors accept offerings made with genuine gratitude, regardless of whether they are made by a man or a woman.

What Are Some Good Things to Do During Pitru Paksh?

Honouring your ancestors and helping people in need is considered very good. For this reason, it is highly recommended to perform Tarpan and Shraadh rituals during this time. You should also read sacred books, especially Chapters 2, 11, and 15 of the Shrimad Bhagavad Gita, and the Garuda Puran. Other helpful deeds you can do are:

• Offer Panchbali Bhog: Before eating, set aside dedicated portions of cooked food for five beings: cows, dogs, crows, ants, and priests or the needy. Crows, in particular, are considered key messengers to the ancestral realm.
• Practice charity or daan by giving food grains, warm clothes, footwear, umbrellas, sesame seeds, jaggery, or ghee to the poor, monks, or priests.
• Placing a ghee or mustard oil lamp (diya) facing south, the direction associated with Lord Yama and the ancestors, is considered good. It is kept near the main entrance, puja ghar (altar), or under a Peepal tree each evening.
• Offer water mixed with a pinch of milk and black sesame seeds to a Peepal, Banyan, or Tulsi plant, as these are traditionally considered a medium for ancestral blessings.

Pitru Paksh is not a time of fear or misfortune, but a sacred period of love, memory, and gratitude. By keeping your heart pure and your devotion strong, you keep the memory and grace of the ancestors alive. May this sacred fortnight bring peace to your forefathers and harmony to your family!