Sarva PanchangSarva Panchang
Pitru Paksha

Chaturdashi Shraddha

Also called: Ghata Chaturdashi, Ghayal Chaturdashi

Chaturdashi Shraddha (Ghata Chaturdashi) is strictly and exclusively reserved for ancestors who suffered an untimely, unnatural, or violent death (Apamrityu), such as through accidents, murder, warfare, weapons, poisoning, snakebite, drowning, fire, or suicide. In the Mahabharata (Anushasana Parva), Bhishma warns against performing ordinary Shraddha on the fourteenth day; by custom it is kept only for those who died an untimely death.

Key facts

Paksha
Krishna Paksha
Lunar month
Ashwin (Purnimanta); Bhadrapada (Amanta)
Deities
Departed Souls of Untimely Deaths (Apamrityu), Lord Yama

The story

Tradition holds that souls whose lives were cut short by violence or accident do not find peace easily, and Ghata Chaturdashi is set apart to offer them the rites that help them move on (Sadgati).

Practices

  • Performing specialized Tarpan and Pinda Daan exclusively for Apamrityu victims
  • Prayers for releasing trauma and cutting karmic bonds
  • Charity of food, blankets, and footwear to relieve distress
  • Avoiding regular Shraddha for natural deaths on this day

Regional variations

  • Observed across all traditional Hindu communities with solemn adherence to this strict rule

Common questions

Can I perform Shraddha for my father on Chaturdashi if he died of natural causes?
No. Scripture strictly prohibits performing Shraddha on Chaturdashi for natural deaths. If a parent died naturally on Chaturdashi, their Shraddha must be performed on Sarva Pitru Amavasya.

Types of Pitru Paksha