Know about Pitra paksha shradh 2020 What, When and How

01/09/2020 mustfrills

Know about Pitra paksha shradh 2020 What, When and How

Pitr shradh 2020

The pitr shradh falls during ashwin month as per hindu rituals. During these days the ancestors are remembered and offered various food items through traditional system of sankalp. The shradhs start from the Purnima of bhadrapada month as per hindu calander and continue till amavasya of ashwin month.

Who should do pitr shradh?

All those who have pitr dosh in their kundli, or
All those who intend to seek the blessings of their ancestors, or
All those who have been following Hindu traditions worldwide, or
All those who have been facing difficulties in life without any sound reason, or
All those who want to inculcate the habit of reverence for their ancestors into the minds of younger generations

Who should do the rituals during shradh?

Son of the departed souls

Grandson of the departed soul

Great grandson of the departed soul and so on

In the absence of above,

Any male member of the family with same gotra of the departed soul

In the absence of all above,

Any female member of the family with same gotta of the departed soul

When should the shradh be done?

On the same tithi (date) on which the ancestor left for heavenly abode as per hindu calander

Dates for pitr shradh 2020

Purnima- September 02, 2020 (Wednesday)

Pratipada- September 03, 2020 (Thursday)

Dwitiya- September 04, 2020 (Friday)

Tritiya- September 05, 2020 (Saturday)

Chaturthi- September 06, 2020 (Sunday)

Panchami- September 07, 2020 (Monday)

Shashthi- September 08, 2020 (Tuesday)

Saptami- September 09, 2020 (Wednesday)

Ashtami- September 10, 2020 (Thursday)

Navami- September 11, 2020 (Friday)

Dashami- September 12, 2020 (Saturday)

Ekadashi- September 13, 2020 (Sunday)

Dwadashi- September 14, 2020 (Monday)

Trayodashi- September 15, 2020 (Tuesday)

Chaudashi- September 16, 2020 (Wednesday)

Amavasya- September 17, 2020 (Thursday)

How to do shradh

All family members should take bath in morning and then the food should be prepared in hygienic conditions.

No one should eat the food prepared for shradh till the rituals are completed.

A priest may be called to start the rituals.

After initial offerings to ancestors, the priest(s) are offered food to eat. The wife of the priest may accompany him if the shradh is for a female member.

After the food is finished the priest(s) are offered dakshina in round numbers like 10, 50, 100, 500 etc and their blessings are taken by touching their feet.

In the absence of priest, the food may be cooked and the plate of offerings may be given at temple for rituals.

In the absence of a priest or temple, the food may be cooked and the boys or gents of maternal side may be offered food first who will do the rituals of taking out a piece each for cow, crow and dog initially before having the food.

In case the family is unable to manage to offer cooked food, raw material may be given to the priest at temple and sankalp done.

Mass offerings like Bhandara may also be organised for the community members at a large scale as per the availability of funds.

What things to be offered to ancestors during shradh

Food and items which had been their favourite while they were alive

Food and items which may be required by the priests or temple

Food traditionally offered includes black whole urad dal, rice, wheat flour, fruits, black till, oil, salt, sweet, milk, water, potatoes, green vegetables etc.

Items traditionally offered include towel, dhoti, kurta, parna, gold, currency etc.

Forbidden during shradh

Buying new clothes, jewelry, vehicles etc

Buying new house or shifting to new house

Starting a new business

Starting a journey

Marriage or looking for bride or groom or any other related activities

Any other auspicious activity

Rituals for the last day of shradh

At the end of the last day of shradh i.e. on September 28, 2019, the family who has offered food to ancestors should light an earthen lamp with mustard oil and ask the ancestors to follow the lamp till a road leading to multi directions. One of the family members should sprinkle the water while leading to that multiple intersection of roads. The earthen lamp should be placed at this intersection and all should ask the ancestors to go back to their places while giving blessings to the family.