Festivals · 2026
Pitru Paksha 2026: Sunday, 27 September 2026
Pitru Paksha in 2026 falls on Sunday, 27 September 2026 and runs through 10 October 2026. Computed for Delhi (IST) from the drik-ganit panchang, by the rule: krishna paksha of ashwin, ending the day before sharad navratri. Abhijit Muhurat runs 11:48 AM – 12:36 PM IST.
The date
Sunday, 27 September 2026
Abhijit Muhurat (shubh for all works) 11:48 AM – 12:36 PM IST
Rule: Krishna Paksha of Ashwin, ending the day before Sharad Navratri
Reference city: Delhi (IST)
Panchang on 27 September 2026
The day's own panchang readings — the nakshatra and tithi that define the date — computed for Delhi by the engine:
| Limb | Value | Ends (IST) |
|---|---|---|
| Nakshatra | Uttara Bhadrapada (Uthirattathi) | 11:08 AM |
| Tithi | Krishna Pratipada | 9:06 PM |
| Sunrise | 6:12 AM | — |
| Sunset | 6:11 PM | — |
Full day — all five limbs, avoid-windows and choghadiya: Delhi panchang for 27 September 2026 →
All days of Pitru Paksha 2026
| Date (Delhi) | Observance |
|---|---|
| 27 September 2026 | Pitru Paksha begins |
| 10 October 2026 | Sarvapitri Amavasya |
Shubh muhurat windows
Pitru Paksha is expressly not for new beginnings — shraddha rites are timed to the afternoon (aparahna kaal) and the ancestor's tithi. Auspicious work resumes after Sarvapitri Amavasya; see the muhurat lists for the next clean date.
| Window | Time (IST) | City |
|---|---|---|
| Abhijit Muhurat (shubh for all works) | 11:48 AM – 12:36 PM | Delhi |
The Abhijit Muhurat is the midday window most digests treat as universally auspicious — Wednesdays excepted (what it is and why). Windows are computed for Delhi; your city's exact span shifts with local sunrise — check the city panchang or the Bela app.
What does Pitru Paksha celebrate?
Pitru Paksha is the sixteen-tithi dark fortnight of Bhadrapada/Ashwin dedicated to the pitrs, the departed ancestors. Families offer shraddha and tarpan on the tithi of their ancestor's death, closing with Sarvapitri Amavasya.
The story and significance of Pitru Paksha
The classics hold that in this fortnight the pitrs visit the living, and feeding them — through shraddha rites, brahmins, cows and crows — is the year's highest filial duty.
Because the fortnight belongs to the ancestors, all auspicious undertakings are suspended: no weddings, no griha pravesh, no new ventures. Bela's muhurat lists exclude it by construction.
Pitru Paksha dates by year
| Year | Date | Day | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 27 September 2026 | Sunday | This page |
| 2027 | 16 September 2027 | Thursday | Pitru Paksha 2027 → |
Frequently asked questions
When is Pitru Paksha in 2026?
Pitru Paksha in 2026 falls on Sunday, 27 September 2026 and runs through 10 October 2026. The date is computed for Delhi from the rule: krishna paksha of ashwin, ending the day before sharad navratri.
What does Pitru Paksha celebrate?
Pitru Paksha is the sixteen-tithi dark fortnight of Bhadrapada/Ashwin dedicated to the pitrs, the departed ancestors. Families offer shraddha and tarpan on the tithi of their ancestor's death, closing with Sarvapitri Amavasya.
What is the shubh muhurat on Pitru Paksha 2026?
The computed windows for 27 September 2026 (Delhi): Abhijit Muhurat — 11:48 AM to 12:36 PM IST. Pitru Paksha is expressly not for new beginnings — shraddha rites are timed to the afternoon (aparahna kaal) and the ancestor's tithi. Auspicious work resumes after Sarvapitri Amavasya; see the muhurat lists for the next clean date.
Does the Pitru Paksha date change from city to city?
Yes, it can. Pitru Paksha is fixed by a tithi prevailing at a specific moment — sunrise, noon, sunset or midnight — and that moment is local. Moving west or east across longitudes can push the prevailing tithi across a civil-date boundary, so Mumbai, Kolkata or New York can observe a day apart from Delhi. Smarta and Vaishnava traditions also differ on some fasting days. The date above follows the popular North-Indian convention for Delhi; the Bela app recomputes for your exact location.
When is Pitru Paksha in 2027?
Pitru Paksha in 2027 falls on Thursday, 16 September 2027 and runs through 29 September 2027. Full windows and notes are on the Pitru Paksha 2027 page, linked below.
Related
Every festival, computed the same honest way.
Exact dates, muhurat windows and the classical rule behind each one — for your own city, not just Delhi.
