Your Guide to Shradh 2025

Among all the different rituals that mark India’s spiritual calendar, Shradh – also known as Pitru Paksha – holds a unique emotional place as the time period is now about celebration, but remembering our ancestors. 

Every year, families pause in this time to honour the departed and express gratitude for all the blessings that flow from the ancestral lineage. Arriving with the Sun’s southern journey, the time signifies an inward turn of energy ideal for reflecting, repaying & reconnecting with those whose presence lives on through legacy and memory. 

Considering how spiritually significant the days are, knowing the exact date that is related to your ancestors is essential. Usually, every day within a fortnight corresponds to a tithi, which is a lunar alignment linked to specific ancestors. When you observe Shradh on this exact tithi, it will help align your personal intent with the cosmic rhythm. 

In this guide, we will walk you through the key Shradh 2025 dates, the dos and don’ts that uphold the practice, along with an easy checklist for beginners who are looking to perform the tradition thoughtfully this year.

The Key Dates to Remember 

In 2025, the day will start on Saturday, 7 September, and end on Sunday, 21 September, according to most of the Hindu Panchangs. These dates correspond to the dark fortnight (Krishna Paksha) of the Bhadrapada lunar month and will begin after Purnima and end with Sarva Pitru Amavasya.  

Pratipada – 7th September 

Chaturthi – 9th September 

Saptami – 13th September 

Ashtami – 14th September

Ekadashi – 17th September 

Chaturdashi – 20th September 

Sarva Pitru Amavasya – 21st September

Traditionally, people perform Shradh on the date that matches their ancestor’s passing day, but in cases where the date is not known, Sarva Pitru Amavasya is generally considered auspicious. 

It is, however, recommended to consult with reliable sources like the Drik Panchang for precise timing, as this would vary across time zones. 

What to do During Shradh?

The essence of Shradh is in gratitude – acknowledging the thread that connects the living with the ones who have departed. For beginners, following the baseline dos will help ensure that your observance is both spiritually grounded and respectful. 

1. Perform tarpan and pind daan with devotion. 

Offer water mixed with barley, black sesame, and rice flour balls to your ancestors while chanting their names, ideally on riverbanks or near a clean water source. But if you perform the rituals at home with faith, it will carry equal merit. 

2. Feed brahmins, cows & the needy 

Feeding is a symbolic gesture of sharing blessings. So cook simple vegetarian meals and then offer them to the priests, animals, or someone who is in need, as this act is believed to carry offerings to the ancestral realm. 

3. Maintain cleanliness and purity. 

Start the day early, take a bath, wear fresh clothes & prepare sattvic meals. Maintaining clean surroundings and calm intentions will help you invite positive energy into your space of remembrance. 

4. Observe the correct tithi.

Every day of the Shradh 2025 aligns with a specific tithi, when you perform rituals on the appropriate day, you will be able to harmonize your offering with the auspicious cosmic timing. But in case you are unsure, choose Sarva Pitry Amavasya as the day to perform rituals. 

5. Keep your mind focused.

Even a brief moment of prayer or silence, when done with awareness, carries a lot of meaning, especially since Shradh’s strengths lie in sincerity and not extravagance. 

By following these simple, easy-to-follow practices, Shradh becomes less about complex traditions and more about heartfelt communication between generations. 

What to Avoid During Shradh?

Just like Shradh guides us toward what to do, it also tells us what to pause, as this period is meant for contemplation and humility. Here are some actions that are traditionally avoided to preserve that spirit. 

1. Avoid major celebrations

The Shradh fortnight is dedicated to remembering ancestors and not starting new ventures. Try and postpone weddings, housewarmings & business launches till after the Shradh 2025 end date. 

2. Refrain from alcohol and non-vegetarian food.

The emphasis on sattvic eating symbolizes mindfulness and purity, which is why families tend to abstain from garlic, onion & processed food during this period. 

3. Avoid shaving or cutting hair, nails.

The practice represents austerity and helps us focus on detachment and simplicity instead of vanity and superficial materialism. 

4. Do not perform rituals casually.

Shradh, when done mechanically as a task, loses its meaning, so approach the ritual with a calm mind and an understanding of its purpose as a prayer of peace and release.

5. Avoid argument or disrespect. 

Try to maintain peace within your household and avoid conflict and gossip, as the period will call for harmony and internal quiet.  

These don’ts should not be treated as prohibitions; they should be treated as a gentle reminder to live consciously and balance action with awareness during Shradh. 

A Shradh Checklist for Beginners 

For people performing Shradh for the first time, it will help to follow a clear, structured approach to eliminate confusion.

• Mark the correct tithi – Use reliable almanacs to confirm Shradh 2025 dates, along with the ancestors’ passing tithi.
• Prepare the space – Clean the area of worship, light a lamp & keep your ancestors’ photos or symbolic offerings ready.
• Perform tarpan – Offer water and black sesame with folded hands to invoke ancestral blessings aloud or in silence.
• Cook a simple vegetarian meal – Avoid heavy or packaged food and dedicate the first portion to your ancestors.
• Feed animals or the needy – Simple acts of charity will amplify the prayer’s effect 
• Conclude the day with reflection – Sit quietly for some time after rituals and offer thoughts of love, forgiveness & connection.

What are Some Modern-day Considerations to Keep in Mind?

With changing lifestyles and responsibilities, a lot of us wonder how to balance Shradh observances with our urban schedules. The good news is that the practice allows for flexibility while maintaining authenticity. 

If you cannot perform elaborate rituals, pick one day within the Shradh 2025 start date and end date window and offer simple prayers at home by lighting a diya, reciting the Gayatri Mantra & offering food to the poor. 

For people living abroad, try and reach out to the temples that organise Shradh ceremonies to ensure that you are performing the rituals either physically or virtually. 

Another critical thing to note is that even in India, the customs would vary between the Northern and Southern regions. 

• In North India, emphasis is usually placed on feeding Brahmins and animals 
• In Southern areas, Shradh often includes parvan rituals performed by families
• In Gujarat and Maharashtra, water offerings and fastings become an integral part of the practice

The essence through it all, however, remains the same – remembrance. As long as your observance is guided by gratitude, Shradh will remain spiritually complete, no matter how you perform it. 

Shradh is a pause that we take every year to reconnect with our origin. By noting the Shradh 2025 start date and end date, you will be able to create a space to celebrate life’s renewal and reflect on how far you have come with our ancestors’ blessings. In this fortnight, time bends backwards, reminding us that the purpose of our life is reverence and remembrance.  So whether you perform full ceremonies or small offerings of gratitude, what will matter is the intent behind it. 

As 2025 unfolds, take it as an invitation to bridge the unseen with what is visible and thank those whose lives became the foundation of ours.