Shraddha Ceremony: Types, Vidhi, Tarpan and Pind Daan Explained

Shraddha is the ceremony through which departed parents and ancestors are remembered and nourished - performed with faith (shraddha), from which it takes its name. It is done on the ancestor's death tithi each year, and collectively for all ancestors during Pitru Paksha. This guide explains the main types of Shraddha, what happens in the ceremony, what you prepare, and what to expect when a purohit performs it at your home. For this year's Pitru Paksha dates and the full tithi calendar, see our Pitru Paksha 2026 dates post.

The main types of Shraddha

• Pratyabdika (annual) Shraddha - performed every year on the ancestor's death tithi by the lunar calendar, not the English date. Your purohit works out the correct tithi for the year; this is the most commonly booked form.
• Parvana Shraddha - the fuller form performed during Pitru Paksha or on Amavasya, addressed to three generations of ancestors on both parental sides.
• Ekoddishta Shraddha - directed to one departed person alone, as done in the first year after passing.
• Sankalpa Shraddha - a compact form in which offerings that would go to invited brahmins are represented through sankalpa and daan; widely used today when a full brahmin bhojan cannot be arranged.
• Tirtha Shraddha - performed at a sacred place such as Gaya, Kashi, Rameswaram or Gokarna. Gaya Shraddha in particular is traditionally held to bring lasting peace to the departed.

Tarpan, Pind Daan and Shraddha - how they fit together

The three terms are often used interchangeably, but they are layers of one observance. Tarpan is the offering of water with black sesame, given with specific mantras. Pind Daan is the offering of rice balls (pindas) that represent the nourishment given to the departed. Shraddha is the full ceremony that contains them, along with sankalpa, the feeding of brahmins or its sankalpa substitute, and daan. A simple observance may be tarpan alone; a full annual Shraddha includes all three. Our Pitru Paksha post explains the ritual meaning in more detail.

What the purohit does, and what you do

The karta - the person performing the Shraddha, traditionally the son, though practice varies by community - sits for the ceremony after a bath, wearing washed traditional clothes. The purohit conducts everything: the sankalpa with the ancestor's name and gotra, the tarpan sequence, the preparation and offering of pindas, and the concluding daan. You will be guided through each action - no prior knowledge is expected, and purohits are used to explaining the steps as they go.

Two details to settle when you book, because they change the preparation:

• Whether brahmin bhojan is included - the traditional full form feeds invited brahmins; the sankalpa form substitutes this with daan. Both are legitimate; your purohit will advise what fits your practice.
• Whose names go into the sankalpa - keep the death tithi (or date), name and gotra of the ancestors ready; if the tithi is not known, the purohit can determine the appropriate day.

What you prepare at home

Category	Items
For tarpan and pinda	Black sesame (til), barley, cooked rice for pindas, kusha or darbha grass, water vessels, a copper plate
Puja basics	Lamp, incense, flowers (avoid strongly fragrant or red flowers; white is customary), betel leaves, fruits
Food offering	A simple sattvik meal cooked that day - rice, dal, vegetables, kheer; no onion or garlic; a portion is offered before anyone eats
Daan items	Uncooked rice, dal, vegetables and cloth for daan; dakshina as per custom

Part of the offered food is traditionally placed for the crow (kakabali), and feeding a cow or dog that day is considered meritorious in many communities. The household eats only after the offerings are complete.

Duration and what it costs

A home Shraddha takes one and a half to two and a half hours depending on the form. As detailed in our purohit cost guide, dakshina for a standard annual Shraddha typically runs ₹2,000 to ₹8,000; an elaborate sankalpa Shraddha with brahmin bhojan can reach ₹15,000 to ₹30,000 including the bhojan arrangements. During Pitru Paksha, purohits are heavily booked - for a specific tithi, book several days ahead rather than the previous evening.

Common concerns, answered plainly

"We have never done this before." That is common, especially for those living away from their home town. The purohit conducts everything and tells you exactly what to do at each step. What matters, as the name of the ceremony itself says, is the shraddha - the sincerity - not prior expertise.

"Can it be done in a flat?" Yes. Shraddha needs no fire ritual in its standard home form; a clean corner, the items above, and about two hours are enough. Tarpan involving flowing water can be adapted or done separately at a river or temple tank if your purohit advises it.

"We missed the tithi." The tradition itself provides for this: Sarva Pitru Amavasya, the last day of Pitru Paksha, is the designated day for Shraddha of all ancestors, including those whose tithis were missed or are unknown.