Pitra Paksha 2026: Ekadashi Shraddha Rituals Observed Today
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Today marks Ekadashi Shraddha, an important ritual day within Pitra Paksha 2026.
Pitra Paksha is a period in the Hindu calendar when families perform rituals to honour their ancestors. Many Hindus believe these rituals help departed souls find peace.
As part of today's observance, devotees are keeping the Indira Ekadashi vrat, a religious fast dedicated to the liberation of ancestors' souls.
Families are also performing Pind Daan, an offering of rice balls, and Tarpan, a water offering made to deceased relatives. Both rituals are central to Shraddha ceremonies during Pitra Paksha.
There had been some uncertainty among devotees about the exact date of Ekadashi Shraddha this year, with questions over whether it fell on October 6 or October 7.
Getting the date and timing correct matters greatly in this tradition, because rituals are expected to be performed during a specific muhurat, or auspicious time period.
News reports have aimed to clarify the correct Shraddha date and provide the appropriate muhurat so that families can perform Pind Daan and Tarpan at the right time.
Pitra Paksha is observed every year and is considered a significant period for Hindu families across India, who pause to remember their forefathers through these traditional offerings and fasting rituals.
Vocabulary10 words
- Ekadashi
- a special recurring day on the Hindu lunar calendar
- Pitra Paksha
- a period for honouring dead ancestors
- ancestors
- family members from earlier generations who have died
- vrat
- a religious fast done for spiritual reasons
- Pind Daan
- a ritual offering of rice balls to ancestors
- Tarpan
- a ritual offering of water to ancestors
- muhurat
- an auspicious, correctly chosen time for a ritual
- deceased
- a word meaning someone who has died
- liberation
- being set free, often used for the soul
- observance
- the act of following a custom or tradition
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Quiz
Answer key
1. Honouring ancestors 2. Offering water to ancestors 3. There was confusion between two possible days
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Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
Today marks Ekadashi _____, an important ritual day within Pitra Paksha 2026.
Pitra Paksha is a period when families perform rituals to honour their _____.
Devotees are keeping the Indira Ekadashi _____, a religious fast.
Families are performing Pind Daan, an offering of rice _____.
Tarpan is a _____ offering made to deceased relatives.
There had been uncertainty about whether the date fell on October 6 or October _____.
Rituals are expected to be performed during a specific _____.
News reports aimed to clarify the correct Shraddha _____.
Pitra Paksha is observed every year across _____.
Discussion questions
- Why do you think remembering ancestors is important in many cultures?
- Have you ever taken part in a ritual that needed a specific time or date? What was it?
- Why might people get confused about religious dates?
- Does your culture have similar traditions for honouring family members who have died?
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