Translated literally from Sanskrit, ‘Shraddha’ means any action that is performed with sincerity and faith towards the ends or the cause. In the original cultural context, the meaning does not detract far from it. Shraddha is a Hindu rite performed to pay homage to one’s ancestor – a forefather’s Eve tradition that is a religious staple across many cultures, the Mexican Day of the Dead coming as the most prominent example. You’ll find the full schedule The Shradhha 2018.
If you live in India, it is impossible for you to not have gone to a shraddha ceremony, but the independent shradhha events are held by an individual on the date of one of their parents’ death. The ceremonial rites comprise of a fire sermon called home, and the ‘pindi pradan’ where offerings of rice balls to the Brahmin priests, who act as the shamanic medium for relaying the homage to the spirit of the departed, is followed by treating the Brahmins with a feast (‘brahman bhojana’) with utmost hospitality and giving them a sum of largesse (‘dakshina’).
On the flip side, there is also a larger, collective shraddha rite performed by a community, called the shraddha paksha or Pitru Paksha. It is a 15/16 day’s period in the Hindu lunar calendar that usually coincides with Bhadranta i.e. the latter part of the month Bhadra for the amavasyant calendar, and Ashwin for the Purnima calendar of Northern India (for a more specific perspective, it also generally coincides with late August or September as per the Gregorian Calendar). The rituals are structurally similar to the individual anniversary shraddhs – involving the pinda daan, the offering of tarpan (kusha grass and barley in a pot), and brahmana bhojana.
The mythological roots of the ancestral ritual can be traced back to the legends of the warrior king Karna, who, upon his ascension to an afterlife, received only jewels and trinkets but no food offerings. It was because he realized, he himself had not made any food offering to his ancestors, oblivious to the consequences. Upon Indra’s permission, Karna returned to earth for two weeks to appease his ancestors properly.
The Shradhha Paksha for 2018 will take place from 24th September to 8th October.Here is a full schedule with the estimated dates and auspicious times:
Purnima Shraddha, 24th September 2018, Monday :
- The Purnima tithi begins on 24th September, 7:18, and ends on 25th September, 8:22
- Kutup Muhurat : 11:04 to 11:52
- Rahina Muhurat : 11:52 to 12:40
- Aparahna Kaal : 12:40 to 15:03
Pratipada Shraddha, 25th September 2018, Tuesday :
- The pratipada tithi begins on 25th September, 8:22, and ends on 26th September, 8:56
- Kutup Muhurat : 11:04 to 11:51
- Rahina Muhurat : 11:51 to 12:39
- Apranha Kaal : 12:39 to 15:03
Dwitiya Shraddha, 26th September 2018, Wednesday :
Source Image- The Dwitiya tithi begins on 26th September, 8:56, and ends on 27th September, 9:02
- Kutup Muhurat : 11:03 to 11:51
- Rahina Muhurat : 11:51 to 12:39
- Apranha Kaal : 12:39 to 15:02
Tritiya Shradhha, 27th September 2018, Thursday :
- The tritiya tithi begins on 27th September, 9:02, and ends on 28th September, 8:44
- Kutup Muhurat : 11:03 to 11:51
- Rahina Muhurat : 11:51 to 12:38
- Apranha Kaal : 12:38 to 15:01
Chaturthi Shradhha / Maha Bharani, 28th September 2018, Friday :
- The chaturthi tithi begins on 28th September, 8:44, and ends on 29th September, 8:03
- The Bharani nakshatra begins on 28th September, 2:23 and ends on 29th September, 2:29
- Kutup Muhurat : 11:03 to 11:50
- Rahina Muhurat : 11:50 to 12:38
- Apranha Kaal : 12:38 to 15:01
Panchami Shraddha, 29th September 2018, Saturday :
- The panchami tithi begins on 29th September, 8:03, and ends on 30th September, 7:03
- Kutup Muhurat : 11:03 to 11:50
- Rahina Muhurat : 11:50 to 12:37
- Apranha Kaal : 12:37 to 15:00
Sashthi Shradhha, 30th September 2018, Sunday :
- The sasthi tithi begins on 30th September, 7:03, and ends on 1st October, 5:44
- Kutup Muhurat : 11:02 to 11:50
- Rahina Muhurat : 11:50 to 12:37
- Apranha Kaal : 12:37 to 14:59
Saptami Shradhha, 1st October 2018, Monday :
- The saptami tithi begins on 1st October, 5:44, and ends on 2nd October, 4:09
- Kutup Muhurat : 11:02 to 11:49
- Rahina Muhurat : 11:49 to 12:37
- Apranha Kaal : 12:37 to 14:58
Ashtami Shradhha, 2nd October 2018, Tuesday :
- The ashtami tithi begins on 2nd October, 4:09, and ends on 3rd October, 2:17
- Kutup Muhurat : 11:02 to 11:49
- Rahina Muhurat : 11:49 to 12:36
- Apranha Kaal : 12:36 to 14:58
Nabami Shradhha, 3rd October 2018, Wednesday :
- The nabami tithi begins on 3rd October, 2:17, and ends on 4th October, 00:10
- Kutup Muhurat : 11:01 to 11:48
- Rahina Muhurat : 11:48 to 12:36
- Apranha Kaal : 12:36 to 14:57
Dashami Shradhha, 4th October 2018, Thursday :
- The dashami tithi begins on 4th October, 00:10, and ends on 21:49
- Kutup Muhurat : 11:01 to 11:48
- Rahina Muhurat : 11:48 to 12:35
- Apranha Kaal : 12:35 to 14:56
Ekadashi Shradhha, 5th October 2018, Friday :
Source Image- The ekadashi tithi begins on 4th October, 21:49, and ends on 5th October, 19:17
- Kutup Muhurat : 11:01 to 11:48
- Rahina Muhurat : 11:48 to 12:35
- Apranha Kaal : 12:35 to 14:56
Dwadashi Shradhha / Magha Shradhha, 6th October 2018, Saturday :
Source Image- The dwadashi tithi begins on 5th October, 19:17, and ends on 6th October, 16:40
- The Magha Nakshatra begins on 5th October, 19:03, end ends on 6th October, 17:11
- Kutup Muhurat : 11:01 to 11:47
- Rahina Muhurat : 11:47 to 12:34
- Apranha Kaal : 12:34 to 14:55
Trayodashi Shraddha / Chaturdashi Shraddha, 7th October 2018, Sunday :
- The trayodashi tithi begins on 6th October, 16:40, and ends on 7th October, 14:02
- The chaturdashi tithi begins on 7th October, 14:02, and ends on 8th October 11:31
- Kutup Muhurat : 11:01 to 11:47
- Rahina Muhurat : 11:47 to 12:34
- Apranha Kaal : 12:34 to 14:54
Sarva Pitru Amavasya, 8th October 2018, Monday :
- The amavasya tithi begins on 8th October, 11:31, and ends on 9th October, 9:16
- Kutup Muhurat : 11:00 to 11:47
- Rahina Muhurat : 11:47 to 12:33
- Apranha Kaal : 12:33 to 14:54
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