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Festival
Sarva Pitru Amavasya 2026 - Date, Significance, Tarpan, & Shraddha Vidhi
Sanatan Sansaar|6 October 2026|3 min read|
Sarva Pitru Amavasya (a.k.a. “Mahalaya Amavasya”) will be observed on 10 October 2026 (Saturday). It is the final day of “Pitru Paksha” and is dedicated to remembering and honoring their ancestors, as well as performing “Shraddha,” offering “Tarpan,” and doing “charity.”
Sarva Pitru Amavasya 2026 Tithi Timings
- Amavasya tithi begins at 09:35 PM on 9 October
- Amavasya tithi ends at 09:19 PM on 10 October
- Kutup muhurat is between 11:53 AM and 12:39 PM
- Rohina muhurat is between 12:39 PM and 01:26 PM
- Aparahna Kaal is from 01:26 PM to 03:45 PM
Point to consider: Shraddha & tarpan timings differ based on location. Therefore, refer to your local Panchang for the exact timing.
What is the Significance of Sarva Pitru Amavasya?
The word “Sarva Pitru” means all ancestors. Therefore, this Amavasya is observed in remembrance of ancestors whose “Shraddha” could not be performed on the “appropriate tithi,” or whose exact “death tithi is not known.” This day gives families an opportunity to remember their departed loved ones together and acknowledge the people who came before us, the values they passed down and the role they played in carrying the family forward.
How is Sarva Pitru Amavasya Observed?
Devotees begin the day with a bath and wear clean clothes. The home and prayer space are kept clean. Families prepare simple food in memory of their ancestors and offer it according to their tradition. Some also perform “Tarpan” or “Shraddha.” Some also remember their ancestors through prayer, charity and food donation.
Devotees may also recite “Shrimad Bhagavad Gita,” “Vishnu Sahasranama” or other prayers. Some families light a diya and spend time remembering their ancestors in silence.
The form of observance is mostly simple because as per Hindu tradition what matters most is the “shraddha, humility and feeling behind it.”
Sarva Pitru Amavasya Tarpan Vidhi
- Wake up early, take a bath, and wear clean clothes (white preferred)
- Clean the puja area and keep a clean vessel filled with water and add black sesame seeds
- Take a sankalp to remember and honour your departed ancestors
- Offer the “til-jal” with devotion and seek your ancestors' blessings
- Complete the observance with charity or food donation (as per your capacity)
Point to consider: The exact steps of performing Tarpan may vary depending on family tradition, region and lineage. Hence, for formal Shraddha or Pind Daan, it is advised by us to follow the guidance of your family pandit.
Sarva Pitru Amavasya Shraddha Vidhi
Families performing formal Shraddha generally observe it during the prescribed “Aparahna” period. The observance may include:
- Taking a bath and making a sankalp
- Offering Tarpan with water and sesame
- Preparing food or Pindas as prescribed
- Offering food in memory of the ancestors
- Praying for the peace of the departed
- Feeding Brahmins or people in need (as per the family tradition)
- Giving daan after completing the Shraddha
Point to consider: The exact ingredients and procedure can change from one family to another. Therefore, you should perform ancestral rituals as per the customs followed in your family.
FAQs
What can I donate on Sarva Pitru Amavasya?
Items that you can donate include:
- Food grains
- Cooked meals
- Rice and wheat
- Fruits
- Clothes
- Black sesame
- Jaggery
- Ghee
What items are required in Sarva Pitru Amavasya puja?
For a simple home observance, you may need: Gangajal, black sesame seeds, kusha grass, a copper or clean vessel, rice (akshat), flowers, diya and ghee, items of daan, etc.
Sarva Pitru Amavasya is also known as?
Sarva Pitru Amavasya is also called as: “Mahalaya Amavasya, Pitru Amavasya, Sarva Pitru Moksha Amavasya, Pitri Amavasya, and Peddala Amavasya in different parts of India.
Is it necessary to observe fast on Sarva Pitru Amavasya?
No. You should observe fast as per your health and family traditions.