September 2026
Bhadrapada Purnima
भाद्रपद पूर्णिमा
📅 26 September 2026
🌕 Quick Info
Bhadrapada Purnima — marks the beginning of Pitru Paksha. Offer tarpan and perform Shraddha rituals to honour departed ancestors.
भाद्रपद पूर्णिमा — पितृ पक्ष की शुरुआत। पितरों के लिए तर्पण और श्राद्ध करें।
About this festival
Full moon of the Bhadrapada month. This Purnima marks the beginning of Pitru Paksha — the fortnight of Shraddha rituals for honoring departed ancestors.
भाद्रपद महीने की पूर्णिमा। यह पूर्णिमा पितृ पक्ष (श्राद्ध पक्ष) की शुरुआत का चिन्ह है — पितरों को स्मरण और तर्पण का पवित्र पखवाड़ा।
✨ Key Significance
- Pitru Paksha begins
- ancestor tarpan and pind daan
- holy river bathing
- charity for departed souls
🙏 How to Observe
- Begin the day with sankalp and short prayer.
- Include: Pitru Paksha begins.
- Include: ancestor tarpan and pind daan.
- Include: holy river bathing.
- Conclude with gratitude, prasad, and positive resolve.
📆 September Guidance
Ganesha and Devi upasana, learning, and auspicious beginnings.
- Daily aarti at home
- Eco-conscious celebration
- Study, prayer, and gratitude
📝 Detailed Notes
Bhadrapada Purnima (also called Proshtapadi Purnima) marks the last full moon of the monsoon season and falls in the Bhadrapada month (August–September).
Connection to Pitru Paksha:
- Pitru Paksha (the 16-day period of ancestor reverence) begins on or just after Bhadrapada Purnima.
- Families remember and honour deceased ancestors through Shraddha rituals, tarpan (water offerings), and pind daan (rice ball offerings).
- It is believed that departed ancestors descend to earth during this period to receive the offerings of their descendants.
Observances on this Purnima:
- Take an early bath and offer tarpan — water mixed with sesame seeds — in memory of ancestors.
- Visit a river or water body for the ritual bath.
- Donate food, clothing, and necessities to Brahmins and the needy in the name of ancestors.
- Light a diya in the evening for the souls of the departed.
Spiritual insight:
- Gratitude to ancestors (Pitru Deva) is considered essential in Vedic tradition.
- This Purnima is a reminder to honour those whose efforts and sacrifices shaped our present lives.
- Bhadrapada is also part of the Chaturmas period when Lord Vishnu rests; this Purnima is auspicious for Vishnu worship too.