Shraddh Puja

Significance and when it is done

Shraddh Puja (श्राद्ध पूजा), also called Shraddham (श्राद्धम्) in Sanskrit, belongs to the category of Pitru karma and last rites. It is an offering of food and water to the ancestors, performed on their tithi — the lunar day associated with the departed. The deity invoked is Pitru, with Vishnu also worshipped.

The purpose is simple to state and deep to practise: an annual remembrance, or an offering during Pitru Paksha, made so that the family remembers, feeds and honours those who came before them. It is not a petition for outcomes; it is a duty of remembrance performed with water, food and mantra.

Who performs it and who should attend

Traditionally the eldest son or the family member who carries the responsibility of Pitru karma performs the ritual. In practice, families adapt: a son, a daughter, or another close relative may take the sankalp and sit for the vidhi. The rest of the family attends, offers namaskar, and receives prasad.

The pandit guides the procedure, recites the mantras and instructs the performer at each step. It helps to decide before the day who will sit for the main ritual, because that person should be free to follow the pandit without interruption.

Vidhi step by step (outline)

Exact sequences differ by region and family tradition. What follows is a general outline; your pandit will follow the paddhati your family observes.

• Sankalp: the performer states the intention, naming the ancestors and the tithi being observed.
• Invocation: Pitru and Vishnu are invoked, with the kalash and Ganga jal placed ready.
• Pind daan: offerings of pind, traditionally prepared with barley flour and rice, are placed with black til and Kusha grass.
• Tarpan: water is offered with black til, Kusha grass and mantras, in remembrance of the ancestors.
• Naivedya and feeding: cooked food, fruits and sweets are offered; in many homes the family then feeds guests or Brahmins, or gives food as daan.
• Aarti and prasad: the ritual closes with aarti, and prasad is distributed.

There is no havan in the usual Shraddh Puja. Typical duration is about 2 h, depending on the tradition and how much is included.

Preparing the samagri and the space

Keep everything on a clean, low table or thali near the place of worship, and keep the space uncluttered so the performer can sit comfortably. The samagri list for Shraddh Puja:

• Roli (kumkum)
• Haldi
• Akshat (unbroken rice)
• Moli (sacred thread)
• Supari
• Paan leaves
• Coconut
• Ghee
• Diya and cotton wicks
• Camphor
• Incense sticks
• Flowers and garland
• Fruits
• Sweets for naivedya
• Ganga jal
• Kalash
• Kusha grass
• Black til
• Barley flour for pind
• Rice
• White flowers

If a family member cannot be present, Shraddh Puja can be done online: many pandits perform it by video call while a family member carries out the physical steps at home.

Regional variations

Observance varies. North Indian families often follow the purnimanta calendar; many South Indian families follow the amanta reckoning, so the tithi may fall on a different day. Smarta and Vaishnava households differ in which mantras are used and in details of pind daan and tarpan. Some families include feeding of guests as part of the ritual; others keep it to the offerings and daan. None of these is a deviation to be corrected — follow the paddhati your family and pandit keep.

After the puja: prasad, daan, dos and don'ts

After aarti, prasad is shared. Daan — food, grains or other items given in the name of the ancestors — is common, and many families also feed guests or Brahmins on this day. Treat the day quietly: keep speech and conduct respectful, avoid arguments, and do not treat the ritual as a transaction.

Practical points: confirm the samagri in advance so nothing is missing on the day; keep the phone on silent during the vidhi; and let the performer follow the pandit without being hurried. If you are unsure about the tithi or the correct procedure for your family, consult a qualified jyotishi or your family pandit. Fees, dakshina and muhurat are shown separately on this page from our data.