Shraadh Vidhi — tarpan, pind daan and panch bali
Shraadh is performed on the tithi of the death, and during Pitru Paksha for all ancestors. The sequence is not long, but its details matter: the sacred thread moves to the right shoulder, the offering faces south, and kush grass is used throughout.
This is the sequence printed on the card inside our Pitru Paksha and Shraddha kits. It is written plainly because it is read on a difficult day.
In this order
- Shraadh is performed at midday — the kutup muhurat — not in the morning or evening.
- The yagyopavit stays on the right shoulder throughout the rite.
- Black til is used, not white.
- The panch bali portions are set aside before the family eats, without exception.
- Onion, garlic and masur are avoided in the food prepared that day.
This sequence is verified by a practising purohit and checked by a second from a different tradition. Practice still varies by region, sampradaya and family — where yours differs, follow your own tradition. Muhurat and tithi should be confirmed against a panchang calculated for your city. Nothing here promises an outcome.
About this vidhi
Traditionally the eldest son, and in his absence another son, a grandson, or the nearest male relative in the paternal line. Practice on whether a daughter may perform it varies by region and family, and a number of traditions accept it. Follow your own family's practice and your purohit's direction.