One Week to Pitru Paksha: A Pitru Paksha Checklist for NRI Families
By DevPravas Editorial Team · · 6 min read
In Phoenix, late September still feels like summer. The heat hasn't broken, school is in full swing, and nothing in the landscape hints that anything is changing. Then a voice note arrives from Lucknow: "Beta, Pitru Paksha aa raha hai. Sab intezaam kar liya?" Pitru Paksha is coming; have you arranged everything? What your mother is really asking is whether the people who raised her, and their people before them, will be remembered properly this year, from wherever her children now live.
This Pitru Paksha checklist for NRI families is for that moment: the few days before the fortnight begins, when a little organisation means you can spend the days ahead present rather than scrambling. Whether you're in Phoenix, Frankfurt or anywhere in between, you're not late. You're right on time.
Pitru Paksha 2026 preparation: the dates first
According to drikpanchang.com (New Delhi), Purnima Shraddha falls on Saturday, September 26, 2026, the Krishna Paksha fortnight of Shraadh runs from Sunday, September 27, and it ends on Saturday, October 10 with Sarva Pitru Amavasya, also called Mahalaya Amavasya. During these days, Hindu families honour their ancestors through Shraadh: offerings of food, water and prayer for those who have passed.
Each ancestor is traditionally honoured on the tithi (lunar day) that matches their death. That's why the fortnight has many distinct Shraadh days rather than a single occasion. One detail matters for families abroad: because tithis are calculated from local sunrise, panchangs for North America often place a tithi a day earlier. Drikpanchang's New York and Toronto listings, for example, show Sarva Pitru Amavasya on October 9. If a pandit in India performs your Shraadh, the Indian date is the one that applies. Our full 2026 tithi calendar shows both.
The Pitru Paksha checklist for NRIs: seven things to settle now
1. Confirm the tithi for each ancestor. If your family has always observed a particular day, write it down now. If you only know the English date of death, a pandit can work out the tithi. That's routine work for a knowledgeable priest, not an obstacle.
2. Decide who is performing the Shraadh. Traditionally a son performs Shraadh, but practice has broadened, and daughters and other close relatives do perform it, especially when there's no son or he can't take part. If this is an open question in your family, settle it this week rather than on the day. Our post on who can perform Shraadh handles it gently.
3. Gather names and gotra. You'll need the ancestor's full name, their relationship to the performer, and the family gotra. If the gotra is uncertain, ask elders now; how to find your family gotra can help.
4. Decide how you'll observe it from where you live. Some families perform Shraadh locally with a priest from their temple. Others have a pandit in India perform it on their behalf, live-streamed so they can take part. Both are valid. For the reasoning behind the remote option, see can you do Shraadh living in the USA and Pitru Paksha 2026: what NRIs need to know.
5. Book your slot before the last days fill up. The days around Sarva Pitru Amavasya are the busiest, because many families who don't know an exact tithi choose that day. If your ancestor's tithi falls earlier, book now and avoid the rush.
6. Tell family back home what you're doing, and when. If relatives in India are also observing Shraadh for the same ancestor, agreeing the dates brings a quiet unity to the fortnight, even when you're performing it separately.
7. Make space in the fortnight itself. Many families avoid celebrations, weddings, housewarmings and major new purchases during Pitru Paksha, and keep meals simple and vegetarian. You don't need to overhaul your calendar abroad, but giving the period some quiet matters.
Pitru paksha me shraadh kaise karein, NRI edition
Many families search in Hindi, typing pitru paksha me shraadh kaise karein NRI, meaning "how do I perform Shraadh during Pitru Paksha as an NRI?" The short answer: know the tithi, know the names and gotra, choose a qualified pandit, and be present in intention, whether you're sitting on the ghat or joining from a kitchen table in Frankfurt, where a morning ritual in India lands in the early hours.
A simple Shraadh samagri list
If you're performing Shraadh at home with a local priest, these are the items most commonly used. Exact items vary by region and family tradition, so check with your priest.
- Black sesame seeds (kala til)
- Kusha (darbha) grass, and a kusha ring (pavitri) for the performer
- Gangajal, or clean water
- Rice or rice flour, ghee and honey, for the pinda
- Barley (jau)
- White flowers
- A diya and incense
- Fruit and simple sattvic food, cooked without onion or garlic
- A clean white or light-coloured cloth, and a thali and lota for tarpan
If a pandit in India performs the ritual on your behalf, the materials are arranged at the ghat, so you won't need to source them yourself. Ask your coordinator what's included.
Do I need to be present for Shraadh?
Physically, no. What the ritual needs is a correct sankalp (your ancestor's name, your name and gotra, and the intention), the proper vidhi performed by a qualified pandit, and your sincere participation. Joining a live stream and following along with the sankalp is how many families abroad fulfil this. Being present in mind matters far more than being present on the ghat.
DevPravas performs the Shraadh / Pitru Paksha puja on the ghats of Gaya or Ujjain, listed from ₹5,100, or ₹6,100 with live stream. Related rites, including Pind Daan and Pitru Tarpan, are on the pujas page. For time-zone guidance, see our NRI page.
Frequently asked questions
What do I need to prepare before Pitru Paksha starts?
Confirm each ancestor's tithi, decide who will perform the Shraadh, gather full names and the family gotra, and choose where it will be performed. Then book early, especially for dates near Sarva Pitru Amavasya. That's the core of any Pitru Paksha checklist for NRI families. Our Shraadh / Pitru Paksha puja page lists what's included.
What if I don't know my ancestor's exact death tithi?
Sarva Pitru Amavasya exists for exactly this. In 2026 it falls on October 10 by the Indian panchang, and Shraadh on that day is accepted for all ancestors, including those whose tithi is unknown or forgotten. If you know the English date of death, a pandit can usually calculate the tithi. See our 2026 tithi calendar.
Do I need to be present for Shraadh if a pandit performs it in India?
Not physically. The ritual rests on a correct sankalp with names and gotra, the proper vidhi and sincere intention, and you can take part in all three through a live stream. Many families abroad observe Shraadh this way every year. Our NRI page explains how slots are timed for your time zone.
What samagri is needed for Shraadh at home?
Commonly black sesame, kusha grass, Gangajal, rice or rice flour with ghee and honey for the pinda, barley, white flowers, a diya, incense and simple sattvic food. Traditions vary, so confirm with your priest. When a pandit performs Pitru Tarpan or Shraadh for you in India, materials are arranged at the ghat.
Is it too late to book Shraadh if Pitru Paksha has already started?
No. Shraadh is performed on each ancestor's tithi, so you only need to book before that day. Plenty of families book mid-fortnight. On devpravas.in, you can also reschedule free of charge until the pandit begins sankalp preparations. Read how to book Shraadh from anywhere.
We're here for this fortnight
Whatever your family's situation, whether a known tithi or an uncertain one, one ancestor or several, a coordinator can take you through it in one WhatsApp conversation. Work through this Pitru Paksha checklist for NRI families, then message us on WhatsApp to begin, or book your date before the fortnight fills up.
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