Shradh Dates 2011 as per Hindu calendar!

The deceased souls or Pitras are ancestors from our current and previous lifetimes. It is believed that pitras with lord Ganesha’s grace approach the earth once a year to get relief from their sufferings. During these days they feed on the willing offerings made to them by descendants. If offerings are not made willingly they forcefully take good fortune energies from their unwilling or ignorant descendants.


Shradh Dates 2011 as per Hindu calendar followed in India is from September 13 to September 27, 2011. In Hinduism, Shradh is the rituals performed by relatives for the departed souls of dead ancestors, parents and relatives.
Below are the Mahalaya Pitru Paksha and Shradh 2011 dates.
Tarpan and Shradh are performed on all Amavasi or no moon days. But the most important period to perform Shradh is the Pitru Paksha period during the Krishna Paksha fortnight in Ashwin month (September – October).
Pitru Paksha Shraddh Dates in 2011

September 13, 2011 – Mahalya Pitru Paksha begins
September 14, 2011 – Dwitiya Shradh
September 15 – Tritiya Shradh
September 16 – Chaturthi Shradh
September 17 – Panchami Shradh
September 18 – Shasti Shradh
September 19 – Saptami Shradh
September 20, 2011 – Ashtami Shradh
September 21, 2011 – Navami Shradh
September 22, 2011 – Dasami Shradh
September 23, 2011 – Ekadashi Shradh
September 24, 2011 – Dwadashi Shradh
September 25, 2011 – Trayodashi Shradh
September 26, 2011 – Chaturdashi Shradh
September 27, 2011 – Mahalaya Amavasi – Most important day of Shradh.

The world of the Pitras loka (ancestral world)

Just as there is biological lineage of transference of DNA along the family line, there is spirit lineage. It is as though there is a spirit DNA as well. Your departed ancestors can help solve the problems. They live in the world of the Pitras loka (ancestral world). Lord Vishnu in his aspect of Surya, the Sun God, is the King of the Pitras. 64 Generations of dead ancestors can help solve your money, relationship, health and other problems quite easily if one knows how to communicate and connect with them. Even great siddhas like Agastiya, Maha Rishis like Vasistha, Avatars like Krishna and Rama when they lived on the earth plane appreciated their spirit ancestors through rituals called Tarpan (Tarpanam in Sanksrit). Tarpan means giving special offerings to the departed spirits especially during the new moon days. Often the offerings consist of black sesame seeds, cooked rice, and water. Sesame seeds particularly constitute the food of the spirits. During new moon day the departed spirits come to the earth plane and stay with their biological relatives from sunrise to sunset. Fasting during the new moon day will alert your consciousness to be in communion with their spirits. Spiritually speaking there are two reasons for all of our mundane problems. One caused by the planets, the other by departed spirits. We should constantly take care of them in order to have a peaceful life. Once a year there is a great celebration in the Pitra loka for 2 weeks. It is called Mahalaya fortnight. It starts on September 16th, right after the full moon and ends on the Mahalaya new moon day, September 28th.

This two week period is the most important period to appreciate your departed ancestors. Significance of the 13 Days ritual:

The Maha Ancestral ritual spans for 13 days from the 1st Moon till the New Moon and each day is ruled by a Thithi. Everyone should take this opportunity to take part in all the 13 days ritual in order to obtain the blessings of your ancestors.
1st Moon-Bestow Wealth
2nd Moon-Bestow progeny
3rd Moon-Bestow Business prosperity
4th Moon-Overpowering enemies
5th Moon-Bestow All prosperity
6th Moon-Bestow Fame
7th Moon-Bestows divine strength
8th Moon-Bestow Intelligence
9th Moon-Gains from women
10th Moon-Bestow Success in undertakings
11th Moon-Prosperity of children and intelligence to children
12th Moon-More progeny and gains through education
13th Moon & 14th Moon-Blessed with many vehicles and renders Peace and longevity Mahalaya New Moon - Those who are not able to do Tarpan on all the above phases of the Moon, should definitely offer tarpan on this day in order to accrue the above said benefits and also will receive benefits by doing Tarpan for those who died due to weapons or accidents. During this day the known and unknown souls that have departed during the last 30 years are treated equal to God
Significance of Donating food and Clothing: The easiest way to access Gods grace is to feed a famished human being starving for food and donate clothes. Donating food is considered to be the greatest charity in all the charities. It is believed that the person who donates food would attain an elevated status. There is an interesting legend highlighting the importance of donating food. In the great epic Mahabaratha, Karna was a great philanthorpist and he never said no to any one who approached him for help. He had donated huge wealth and had done all kinds of charity except for donating food. Once a soul reaches heaven, it is that the soul would not feel hungry. However, when Karnas soul after his death reached heaven, his soul was feeling hungry. He then realized that though he had done all kinds of charities, he did not do feeding or Annadhan. Hence Annadhan is the highest of all the charities. Donating food on Ammavsya is considered to be important as this is considered to be a ritual on this day.

Pitra Dosha

It is believed that by satisfying our ancestors and forefathers who are no more in this world, we can have blessings for happy and peaceful worldly life.
According to Puran Pitrukshetra have been divided into five parts out of these Bodhigaya as Shirakshetra, Vaitarni as Nabhi kshetra, Pithapur at padarkshetra, Siddhpur at Matrukshetra and Badrinath as Brahmakapali kshetra. T
hus, all these five-pitru tirtha are various organs of one body.
Bodhygaya Kshetra is very famous, ancient and holy pilgrim for dedicating Pind dan for ancestors and forefathers. That is situated on the bank of Falgu river in Bihar state.
Nabhigaya Kshetra is situated at Jajpur village on the bank of Vaitarni river in Orissa state. It is also known as Nabhi Kshetra. Vaitarni river is famous in Puran wherein it is mentioned that after death one has to cross Vaitarni river and the person who have perform good deeds during his life time can only cross the river very easily.
But by performing Pitrutarpan Pooja here one can make his forefather cross this river.Padgaya Kshetra is situated at Pithapur at Andra Pradesh state on the Madra-valter railway line. It is situated near Rajah Mundry station.
Siddhpur is known as Matrugaya Kshetra is situated in Mahesana district of Gujarat state.
Bhagavan Parshuram had perform Pind dan dedication of his mother in the past so pilgrims from all over India to Siddhpur for performing this pooja.
On the bank of Bindu Sarovar, Pindadan and Shradh ceremony are performed. Learned Brahmin who have been educated and trained to perfome this special type of pooja is always available in Siddhpur.Near Badrinath in Himalaya. A stone known as rahmakapali has been founded wherein Pindadan dedication and Shradh pooja is performed.If there is Pitrudosh in your horoscope because of which family doesn’t grow or the family has to face the problems constantly one has to perform Narayan Bali pooja on the bank of Narmada river at Chanod tirtha situated near Dabhoi in Baroda district in Gujarat. This Kshetra is very famous for other Pitrutarpan pooja and dedication to ancestors and forfathers. Learned and well-educated Brahmins are providing all types of facilities and amenities to the pilgrims to the coming here to all over India. Even after death to perform Uttarkriya people are coming here from every corners of the country.