Shraddha

Select the death tithi and year to find the annual Shraddha date and the Pitru Paksha window.

About this calculator

Shraddha is the annual ritual performed to honour a departed family member. The correct date is determined by the tithi (lunar day) on which they passed — not the Gregorian anniversary. This calculator finds that tithi each year.

How to use

Enter the Gregorian date of death and the approximate time.
We compute the lunar tithi and paksha (bright or dark half) active at the time of death.
Submit to see this year's Shraddha date, plus the next three years.

Vedic background

Shraddha rests on the Vedic belief that ancestors inhabit Pitru Loka and require sustenance from their descendants' offerings. The Garuda Purana says that an unperformed or incorrectly-timed Shraddha creates pitru dosha — ancestral karmic residue that can manifest as family strife, health issues, or blocked fertility. For families without the means for a full ritual, even simple tarpan with water and black sesame at home, performed with attention, is considered valid.