Pitru Paksha is the time meant for performing the shradh rituals of the family members irrespective of the month and paksha when they died. If an individual was not been able to perform annual shradh rituals regularly can perform during this is most favorable period. One can perform shradh ceremonies of those who left for their heavenly abode as bachelors, sanyasis, mothers, wives, maternal grandparents, and whose death dates are unknown or who died unnatural deaths are performed during the Pitru Paksha.

In the year 2019, the Pitru Paksha starts from Monday, 13th September and continues until 28th September . Pitru Paksha is a period of sixteen days between the Purnima and Amavasya tithis of Bhadrapada month. The shradh ceremonies of the ancestors who died on the respective tithis are performed during the Pitru Paksha. Pitru Paksha shradh is also called as Mahalaya Paksha shradh.

Shradh of all the ancestors and of those who died of unnatural deaths can be commonly performed on the Mahalaya Amavasya which is the last day of the Pitru Paksha. It is also called as Sarva Pitru Moksha Amavasya.

Rituals to be followed while performing Shradh puja at home

• One must not eat non-vegetarian food at least one day before the shradh ceremony and have the meal only once in a day.
• The backyard of the house is regarded as perfect for performing these rituals.
• Start the puja by chanting of Omkar, pray Guru, Ganesh, Ashwini Devtas and Maha Vishnu and seek their blessings for the successful completion of the ritual.
• Place the copper vessel with water on your left palm and close the top with your right palm chanting the following mantra.

“Gangecha Yamunaschaiva Godavari Saraswati

Narmade Sindhu Kaveri Jalesmin Sannidam Kuru”

• Chant the following mantra to remember the seven holy cities of India and say you are going to perform the Pitru Paksha Tarpan. “Ayodhya Madhura Maya Kashi Kanchi Avantika Puri Dwaraavati Chaiva Sapta Ethey Moksha Dayakaa”
• Shri Uma Maheshwara, Shri Lakshmi Narayana, Shri Vani Brahma Deva, Sakala Devata, Pitru Devata Preetyartham, Pitru Paksha Punaya Kaale ___________ (include the name of the tithi when you perform the ceremony) Shrardham Thila Tarpanam Roopena Adhya Karishye.
• Pray for the ancestors of 40 generations in both the paternal and maternal sides and also all the souls in all the worlds. Meditate a few seconds saying, “May all the Pitrus accept my humble offering and bless me to continue this holy deed over the subsequent years also.”
• Take a spoonful of water from the copper vessel. Collect it in your right hand and sprinkle it on your body over the head as an act of self-purification (both body and mind).
• Invite the pitrus by wearing the ring made by darbha grass and by holding black sesame seeds in hand, chant the mantra. “Vasu Rudra Aadithya sorupaan asmath Pitur (father), Pithamaha (grand-father) prapithaa mahanaam (great-great grand) Maathur-(mother), maatha-maha-maathu-pithamaha–(grandfather), prapithaa mahanaam (great-great grand) maathur-pithamahi (maternal forefathers) Maathur-prapithaa maheenaam Dhyayaamee (meditate) Asmin koorcha Ubayam vamsa Pithurnaam Aavaahayaami (invite Ancestors) Sthaapayaami (provide them seat), poojayaami (offer worship).
• Touch the grass with the sesame seeds meditating on the fact that the ancestors are seated on the grass. Chant, “Mama vargadh- doya piturbyo namaha.
• By chanting the mantra “Om Namo Narayanaya” thrice, drain the sesame seeds through your index finger by pouring water on it.
• Take some cooked rice and mix it with sesame seeds. Make three rice balls of this mixture and keep ready on a plate. Chant the following mantra. “Maatur-vamsae Mritha-yaesnjae Pitur-vamsae thadaiva chaGuru syasura Bandoonaam ye cha anyae Baandava MrithaThilodakam cha pindam cha pithurnaam parithushtayaeSamarpayaami Bakthya Aham Prarthayaami Praseedhamae”
• Place the pinda (rice ball) in the middle of the Kusha grass. Touch the rice ball with your right hand and meditate on the ancestors. Take some sesame seeds with water, pour on the pinda and say ‘Tilodagam Samarpayami’.
• With folded hands chant this mantra “Devathaabya Piturbyasnja Maha-yogeebya-Eva chaNama Swadaayai Swaahaayai Nithya-meva Namo NamahaAA Brahamano ye Pitur-vamsa-jaathaMaathu SthathaVamsa Bava MatheeyaMithraani Sakya Pasavanja VrikshaDrishtanja Adrishtaanja Kritho-pagaa-raahaJanmantharae ye mamasangathanjaDebya swayam panda-balim dadhameeBoomou Dathethana balinaa Trhipaayaanthu paraan-gatheemAtheetha Kula-kodinaam saptha dweepa NivaaseenaamPraaneenaam Udhagam Dadhtham Akshayam-upathish-tathu”
• Collect all the contents of the puja in a vessel and carry it on the head to the nearest water body (lake, river or sea) and chant “Idam Pindam Gayaar-pitho Asthu. After this, remove the grass ring.
• Take bath and visit temples. Do puja at home in the regular altar. Give alms and food to the poor and needy. If possible avoid dinner on this day. In the south room of the home, light a lamp in the evening with the wicks facing north – south. Offer a cup of water and a cup of milk and pray facing the south direction. “Samasaana Anala Dagdosi Parithya-kethasi Baandha vaih Idam neeram Idam ksheeram Ahaaraya Pragalpathaam”.