Magha Shraddha during Pitru Paksha is one of the most significant occasions to remember, honor and seek the blessings of our ancestors.

What makes this day so special is Magha Nakshatra itself.

In Vedic tradition, the presiding deities of Magha are the Pitrs - our ancestors.

Magha represents our roots, heritage, family lineage and everything that has been passed down to us through generations.

And when Magha occurs during Pitru Paksha - the sacred 16-day period dedicated entirely to our ancestors - the connection becomes especially powerful.

This is a sacred opportunity to remember those who came before us, express gratitude for our lineage and pray for healing of unresolved ancestral karmas.

According to Vedic tradition, we inherit much more than our family name.

We can also carry the Samskaras, blessings, unresolved karmas and repeating patterns of our ancestral lineage.

Sometimes we see similar struggles appearing again and again within a family - difficulties connected with relationships, marriage, prosperity, children, health, emotional wellbeing or stability. Magha Shraddha gives us an opportunity to consciously pray for these ancestral patterns to be healed and for the blessings of our Pitrs to flow more strongly through the family.

On this sacred day, special ancestral rituals will be performed in Kashi (Varanasi)

During this sacred Magha Shraddha, a special Bhairava Homa will also be performed, invoking the powerful blessings of Lord Bhairava.

Lord Bhairava is traditionally revered as a powerful protector and is associated with removing obstacles, offering protection and supporting the clearing of difficult influences. The Homa will be performed with prayers for the protection, wellbeing and spiritual strength of the entire family.

Date: October 06, 2026

Time: 08:00 PM IST | 10:30 AM EDT | 07:30 AM PDT | 04:30 PM CEST | 03:30 PM BST

To find your local time - check here

Why Is Magha Shraddha So Powerful?

There are 27 Nakshatras in Vedic astrology, but Magha has a very special connection with our ancestors.

Its presiding deities are the Pitrs.

Magha reminds us that we do not stand alone.

Behind each one of us are generations of people whose lives, choices, sacrifices, Samskaras and blessings have contributed to who we are today.

Pitru Paksha is already dedicated completely to remembering and honoring our ancestors.

When Magha Nakshatra occurs during this sacred period, it becomes an especially meaningful time to turn our attention toward our lineage.

It is an opportunity to remember our parents, grandparents, great-grandparents and generations whose names we may not even know.

And ancestral worship is not only about those who have passed.

It is also about the family living today.

When we pray for healing within our lineage, the intention is that difficult patterns stop repeating and that greater peace, prosperity and blessings flow to the generations that follow us.

We honor the generations before us so that the generations after us may receive greater blessings.

Why Bhairava Homa on Magha Shraddha?

Magha Shraddha turns our attention toward our ancestors and ancestral lineage, while Bhairava Homa invokes divine protection and the removal of obstacles.

Together, these sacred rituals offer a powerful intention:

Honor the ancestors. Pray for healing of ancestral patterns. Seek protection for the family. Invite greater peace and blessings into the lineage.

Benefits

1. Ancestral Karma Cleansing
   Prayers are offered for healing unresolved karmic patterns carried through the family lineage.
   
2. Pitru Dosha Remedy
   Seek relief from difficulties traditionally associated with Pitru Dosha and ancestral influences.
3. Peace for Departed Family Members
   Offer prayers for the peace and spiritual wellbeing of those who have passed.
   
4. Break Repeating Family Patterns
   Pray for freedom from difficulties that appear repeatedly across generations.
   
5. Healing Across Your Lineage
   Seek greater peace and healing for past, present and future generations of your family.
   
6. Receive Ancestral Blessings
   Honor the Pitrs and seek their blessings for prosperity, stability and progress.
   
7. Family Harmony & Stability
   Prayers for greater peace, understanding and harmony within the family.
   

Family Sankalpa - 2 Members
Include another loved one in the sacred Sankalpa so that the blessings of the Bhairava Homa may be extended to your family.

Family Sankalpa - 4 Members
Include up to four family members in the Sankalpa for this special Bhairava Homa.

Kalabhairav Deepa Seva
A special lamp will be offered before Lord Kalabhairav with your name and Sankalpa.

Lighting a Deepa represents the removal of darkness and is offered with prayers for protection, clarity and freedom from obstacles.

Brahmana Bhojanam
A sacred meal will be offered to Brahmanas in the name of your ancestors.

Offering food during Pitru Paksha has traditionally been considered an important way of honoring
and remembering the Pitrs.

Ganga Deepa Daan in Kashi (Video will be sent)
A sacred lamp will be offered on the banks of Mother Ganga in Kashi in the name of your ancestors.

The offering will be made with your Sankalpa, praying for peace for departed family members and
blessings across your lineage. 

Special Pinda Tarpanam in Kashi (Video will be sent)
A special Pinda Tarpanam will be performed in sacred Kashi for a departed family member or loved one.

Their name and your Sankalpa will be shared with the priest so that the ritual can be performed specifically on their behalf.

Prayers will be offered for their peace and spiritual wellbeing.

A video of the Pinda Tarpanam will be sent to you after the ritual.