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The 16-day long Pitru Paksha, which starts from Bhadrapada Purnima and continues till the new moon day of Ashwin Krishna Paksha, is now moving towards its last stop. The most important and last day of Pitru Paksha is called ‘Sarva Pitru Amavasya’ or Pitru Visarjan Amavasya. On this day, the ritual of organizing Shraddha, Pind Daan, Tarpan and Brahmin feast for all the ancestors, known and unknown, is considered supreme in the scriptures. This year, there is a lot of confusion among the devotees regarding the exact date of Sarvapitri Amavasya whether the Shraddha of Pitru Visarjan should be performed on 9th October or 10th October. According to the precise calculations of the Hindu Vedic calendar, the Amavasya date of Ashwin Krishna Paksha will start from the afternoon of 9 October 2026 and will remain in effect till the afternoon of 10 October 2026. According to Sanatan Dharma and Dharmasindhu Granth, performing Shraddha for the ancestors is always most fruitful on ‘Aparahna Vyapini’ i.e. the date that falls in the afternoon. On the basis of this classical rule, celebrating the main Shraddha, Tarpan and immersion of Sarvapitri Amavasya on Saturday, October 10, 2026 is scriptural and authentic.
In Garuda Purana, Matsya Purana and Markandeya Purana, Sarvapitri Amavasya has been called the crown jewel of all the dates. Generally, Shraddha of those ancestors whose death date (Pratipada, Dwitiya, Navami, Ekadashi etc.) is known to the family members, is performed on the same date. But if the date of death of any ancestor is not known, has died untimely, or due to some unavoidable reason has missed performing Shraddha on a specific date in the 15 days of Pitru Paksha, then for all of them, performing Shraddha on the day of Sarvapitri Amavasya brings satisfaction to the ancestors. It is believed that on this auspicious day, all the ancestors who have come to earth from the ancestral world are satisfied by taking the Jalanjali and food and water given by their descendants and while leaving, they bestow blessings of longevity, health, progeny and wealth on their family. After this, the ancestors again depart for the ancestral world, hence it is also called ‘Pitru Visarjani Amavasya’ or ‘Mahalaya’.
The work of Shraddha and Tarpan is never done in the morning, evening or night. For this, three specific afternoon muhurtas – Kutup, Rohin and Aparahan Kaal – have been prescribed in the scriptures. To perform Shraddha rituals on October 10, 2026, please note the following time table in your diary:
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Amavasya Tithi Start: From 12:20 pm on 9th October 2026
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Amavasya date ends: By 01:45 pm on 10th October 2026
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Kutup Muhurat: On October 10 from 11:44 am to 12:31 pm. During this period, it is considered best to start making resolutions, offering water and offering Pind Daan to the ancestors.
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Rauhin Muhurat: From 12:31 pm to 01:17 pm. This time is very fruitful for food donation, havan and deva-pitru puja.
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Afternoon Kaal: From 01:17 pm to 03:35 pm. Brahmin feast, Panchabali offering and the final Purnahuti of Shraddha should be performed during this time.
On the day of Pitru Visarjan, wake up early in the morning before sunrise, take bath and wear clean white clothes. Sit on the banks of a holy river or in a quiet north-east or north-east corner of the house, facing south. Mix pure water, Ganga water, raw cow’s milk, black sesame, barley, white flowers and basil leaves in a copper or brass vessel. Wear a sacred thread made of Kusha (grass) in the ring finger of your right hand. After this, fill water in the anklets of both hands and remember your ancestors and offer water through the thumb with the mantra ‘Om Pitribhyah Namah’. Giving water through the thumb is called ‘Pitra Tirtha’, through which the offered water reaches the ancestors directly. After tarpan, offer kheer, puri and ghee on the pot and light incense sticks.
It is a mandatory Vedic ritual to offer ‘Panchbali’ before serving food to a Brahmin during the Shraddha of Sarvapitri Amavasya. It is meant to offer food to five specific creatures and deities, who are considered messengers of the ancestors:
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Gau Bali (Cow): First of all, take out portions of food for the cow on a plate. Thirty-three crore gods and goddesses reside in the cow.
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Dog sacrifice (dog): Keep the second part aside for the dog considered to be the messenger of Yamraj.
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Kaak Bali (Crow): Offer the third part to the crow. It is believed that the crow is directly connected to the ancestral world and eating its food is a sign of the ancestors’ satisfaction.
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Devadi Bali (Ant): Keep the fourth part on the roots of trees or on the ground for ants and micro insects.
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Guest/Pipilika Bali: Take out one-fifth for a beggar, a monk or birds. After taking out the Panchabali, prepare food that is sattvik and without onion and garlic and feed it to a worthy, virtuous Brahmin with devotion and give him Dakshina, clothes and fruits as per your capacity and touch his feet and seek blessings.
On the evening of Sarvapitri Amavasya, a special lamp must be donated at sunset. After sunset, light a four-sided lamp of mustard oil or sesame oil under a nearby Peepal tree, near a Tulsi plant or at the main entrance of your house facing south. Keep some black sesame seeds under the lamp. This lamp is lit to illuminate the departure path of the ancestors so that the ancestors can return to their world happy and without any hindrance. On this day, donating food, shoes, umbrellas and black blankets to poor, helpless and needy people is considered very virtuous.