HiAstro Insights
7 Common Mistakes People Make During Pitru Paksha
Pitru Paksha for the year of 2026 will take place between the dates of September 26 to October 10. Pitru Paksha is a duration of sixteen days based on the Hindu calendar to pay tribute to forefathers or ancestors by observing rituals like Tarpan, Shraddha, and Pind Daan. This is a time period filled with positive motives but unintentionally, many people misinterpret things either due to wrong information being passed or oversights during the rush of life.
It is very important to get the timing right with Pitru Paksha rituals since they are believed to have a direct impact on Pitru Rin. This means that every family has an ancestral debt (Pitru Rin). Therefore, the following are the seven mistakes that have to be avoided this year.
1. Performing Shraddha on the Wrong Tithi
The biggest blunder people commit while doing Shraddha is performing it on an arbitrary date instead of the actual tithi (the lunar date on which the ancestor passed away). They end up opting for the weekend date or a date that suits everyone, presuming that performing the ceremony is more important than performing it on time. However, Hindu customs maintain that the date on which the event is performed is integral to making the ceremony successful, as it is believed to be the date on which the soul of the ancestor can be best contacted.
What to do instead: Verify the tithi by using a reliable Panchang, and if the correct tithi is not known, consult a priest or an astrologer regarding the nearest suitable date within the Pitru Paksha.
Read more https://www.hiastro.in/blog/pitru-paksha-dos-and-donts-a-respectful-guide-for-families
2. Skipping Tarpan Because "There's No Priest Available"
A frequent misunderstanding is that Tarpan absolutely necessitates the involvement of a priest and an elaborate arrangement, thereby stopping many aspiring practitioners from embarking on the ritual altogether when they are unable to arrange for such a setup in time. While it is beneficial to have a priest’s advice, it is not mandatory. Tarpan can be performed at home using water, black sesame seeds, and heartfelt intentions while facing towards south, especially on Amavasya or any other day if one cannot perform it on Amavasya.
What to do instead: A much-simplified home-based version of Tarpan is far better than completely abandoning the ritual altogether. In addition, many temples and astrologers offer the option of having the Tarpan done virtually during this time frame for people who cannot perform the ritual for any reason.
3. Starting Celebratory Events During the Fortnight
Previous advice on Pitru Paksha myths explained that essential purchases are allowed. Yet, some families misunderstand the tradition and mark important milestones like weddings, engagement ceremonies, Griha Pravesh, and Mundan ceremonies during this period for convenience or a lack of understanding.
What to do instead: Arrange celebratory events after Sarva Pitru Amavasya. All necessary purchases can be made; however, one should postpone celebrations.
4. Consuming Non-Vegetarian Food or Alcohol During Shraddha Days
It is a common mistake, especially amongst the younger members of the family, who might be living alone, to not realize that the observance of Shraddha involves refraining from non-veg food and liquor, at least on the day when Shraddha is performed, as part of the ritual and not as a choice.
What to do instead: For most traditional practices, even if a sattvic diet cannot be maintained for two weeks, sticking to one on the appointed Shraddha day is believed to be sufficient.
5. Ignoring or Skipping Pind Daan for Ancestors Without a Known Death Date
Some families have ancestors for whom they do not know the date of death, especially in case of ancestors belonging to older generations, and thus, they think that it is not possible to perform Pind Daan or Shraddha for them or the ceremony could actually be omitted for this ancestor.
What to do instead: Sarva Pitru Amavasya, the last day of Pitru Paksha is only meant for honoring all ancestors whose date of death is unknown. Hence, this day is extremely significant during the two weeks of rituals and is not a minor addition.
Read more https://www.hiastro.in/blog/5-signs-your-ancestors-are-trying-to-communicate-with-you
6. Turning Away Guests, Beggars, or Animals During This Period
In our busy day-to-day lives, we often miss our guests, delivery persons, and stray animals, but according to Hindu beliefs, feeding guests, needy people, and animals (especially crows and cows) is very important.
What to do instead: Make sure to reserve small portions of your food, water, and essential items for unexpected guests, delivery boys, and homeless animals during this period because the act is thought to have great consequences in that fortnight.
7. Treating All Sixteen Days as Identical
A more subtle mistake occurs when assuming that all days in Pitru Paksha are alike and can be treated the same way. Different days have different significance attached to them, for example Chaturthi connects with unexpected deaths, Navami has special meaning for women killed in warfare (and is observed as Avidhava Navami), and the last Amavasya covers all deaths that could not be dated.
What to do instead: Identify what day goes with which ancestor and conduct ceremonies on them accordingly, instead of doing everything on one single day.
Why These Details Matter More Than They Seem
The origin of all these errors is not due to lack of respect; rather, they occur because of the passing of half information through word of mouth from generation to generation. While Vedic astrology understands Pitru Paksha this comprehensively, it recognizes that the unresolved Pitru Rin can create far-reaching problems and issues beyond just performing rituals. For instance, it can give rise to patterns of delayed marriage, problems in careers, and various family issues when things are not properly addressed year after year.
In case of family members who are not sure which mistakes have affected them in the first place, a Kundli reading focused on 9th house and Pitru Dosha indicators can provide them with a lot of insights that cannot be achieved from broad guidelines. You can check out your free Kundli or consult an astrologer to get in-depth advice about your family chart before Pitru Paksha 2026.
Read more https://www.hiastro.in/blog/5-signs-your-ancestors-are-trying-to-communicate-with-you
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What happens if Shraddha is performed on the wrong tithi?
Shraddha may be done properly and diligently, but which tithi is adhered to is what determines whether the ritual has authenticity or not. In case the exact date is unclear, it is better to take help from a priest or an astrologer and know the closest suitable date.
2. Can Tarpan be performed at home without a priest?
Yes. It can definitely be done with water and black sesame seeds, with utmost faith, while facing south..
3. Is it necessary to avoid non-vegetarian food for all 16 days?
Most traditional guidelines consider it sufficient to avoid non-vegetarian food and alcohol specifically on the day a Shraddha is being performed, rather than the entire fortnight.
4. What if I don't know my ancestor's exact date of death?
Sarva Pitru Amavasya is the last day of Pitru Paksha and was instituted specifically to commemorate ancestors whose death date is unknown.
5. Why is Navami considered important during Pitru Paksha?
The relevance of Navami during Pitru Paksha: Navami, commonly known as Avidhava Navami, has been associated with the worship of the dead married females of one's family.
6. Can these mistakes affect areas of life beyond rituals?
As per Vedic astrology, unchecked Pitru Rin has its roots in forgotten or wrongly performed rituals and is responsible for persistent issues regarding matrimony, career and family life; hence the recommendation to consult a good astrologer to analyse the horoscope.
7. What's the simplest way to avoid most of these mistakes?
The answer is to follow a reliable Panchang for the right dates; carry out at least basic Tarpan, and remain courteous towards guests and animals over the days.