Shashthi Shraddha
Also called: Chhath Shraddha
Dedicated to ancestors who departed on the sixth lunar day (Shashthi) of either fortnight.
Key facts
- Paksha
- Krishna Paksha
- Lunar month
- Ashwin (Purnimanta); Bhadrapada (Amanta)
- Observed on
- Krishna Shashthi tithi
- Deities
- Departed Ancestors who passed away on Shashthi
The story
Scriptures teach that regular annual remembrance preserves family lineage and shields descendants from hidden afflictions.
Practices
- Midday Tarpan during Kutupa Muhurta
- Offering rice and sesame pinda balls
- Feeding Brahmins and distributing food to the needy
Regional variations
- Follows standard pan-Indian Vedic Shraddha vidhi
Common questions
- Can Shraddha be performed in an apartment or rented house?
- Yes. Clean a quiet area, face south, place kusha grass on the floor, and perform the rites with sincere devotion.
Types of Pitru Paksha
- Purnima ShraddhaPurnima tithi preceding the dark fortnight
- Pratipada ShraddhaKrishna Pratipada tithi
- Dwitiya ShraddhaKrishna Dwitiya tithi
- Tritiya ShraddhaKrishna Tritiya tithi
- Chaturthi ShraddhaKrishna Chaturthi tithi
- Bharani ShraddhaChaturthi or Panchami coinciding with Bharani Nakshatra
- Panchami ShraddhaAshwin (Purnimanta); Bhadrapada (Amanta)
- Shashthi ShraddhaKrishna Shashthi tithi
- Saptami ShraddhaKrishna Saptami tithi
- Ashtami ShraddhaKrishna Ashtami tithi
- Navami ShraddhaAshwin (Purnimanta); Bhadrapada (Amanta)
- Dashami ShraddhaKrishna Dashami tithi
- Ekadashi ShraddhaKrishna Ekadashi tithi
- Dwadashi ShraddhaAshwin (Purnimanta); Bhadrapada (Amanta)
- Trayodashi ShraddhaAshwin (Purnimanta); Bhadrapada (Amanta)
- Chaturdashi ShraddhaAshwin (Purnimanta); Bhadrapada (Amanta)
- Sarva Pitru AmavasyaAshwin (Purnimanta); Bhadrapada (Amanta)