For families honoring ancestors during Pitru Paksha, a special day is designated for those who have died a sudden or violent death, including victims of murder, suicide, and accidents. This specific ritual is performed on Chaturdashi Shraddha (the fourteenth day of the fortnight) to ensure peace for the departed souls.
The Significance of Chaturdashi Shraddha
Pitru Paksha is the 15-day period dedicated to performing shraddha rituals to honor ancestors. While most shraddha ceremonies are performed on the tithi (lunar day) on which the person died, those who passed away from unnatural causes are an exception.
According to Hindu scriptures like the Garuda Purana, souls of those who died a sudden or violent death are believed to be restless. Performing shraddha on Chaturdashi helps provide spiritual nourishment and peace to these souls, aiding their journey to a higher realm and mitigating the effects of pitru dosha (ancestral afflictions).
For Pitru Paksha 2025, Chaturdashi Shraddha falls on Saturday, September 20, 2025.
Key Days of Pitru Paksha 2025
While Chaturdashi is specifically for unnatural deaths, it’s important to understand the other key dates of Pitru Paksha:
- Purnima Shraddha (September 7, 2025): For those who passed away on a full moon day.
- Matru Navami (September 16, 2025): The ninth day, specifically for mothers and all married women who passed away before their husbands.
- Sarva Pitru Amavasya (September 21, 2025): This is the final and most important day of Pitru Paksha. It is the day for performing shraddha for all ancestors whose death tithi is unknown. If for any reason, a family is unable to perform the shraddha on the designated day, they can perform it on Sarva Pitru Amavasya.
General Rules for Performing Shraddha
- Who can perform it? The shraddha ritual is traditionally performed by the eldest male member of the family, typically a son or a male relative from the paternal side.
- Auspicious time: The rituals are best performed during the afternoon, specifically during Aparahna Kaal (afternoon period).
- Offerings: The rituals involve offering food (pinda) made of cooked rice, barley flour, and black sesame seeds. Water offerings (tarpan) and prayers are also an integral part of the ceremony.
- Purity: It is customary to avoid non-vegetarian food, alcohol, and other tamasic items during the entire Pitru Paksha fortnight.
- Donations: Feeding Brahmins, cows, dogs, and crows is considered an important part of the ritual, as it is believed that these acts directly reach the ancestors.
For a family dealing with the loss of a loved one to unnatural causes, performing shraddha on Chaturdashi is a significant way to show respect and help their soul find peace.
