Pitru Paksha rules: when to get a haircut, and shraddha in a wedding year

Pitru Paksha began on Sunday, September 27. In several places, the full moon shraddha was already observed on September 26. Certain rules are followed through this fortnight, believers say, so that ancestors are pleased and give their blessings. People often get a haircut on the day of their ancestors' shraddha, but many are confused about whether tarpan and shraddha should be performed in a year when a son or daughter in the family has married. It helps to know what the scriptures say on this.

According to astrologers, a head shave should not be done at the start of or during the shraddha period, that is, between Pratipada and Sarvapitru Amavasya. The Dharmasindhu states that getting a haircut on a shraddha day during Pitru Paksha causes the cut hair to fall into the ancestors' mouths. To avoid this, one should get a haircut a day before Pitru Paksha begins, or in the afternoon on Sarvapitru Amavasya.

Whether shraddha should be performed if a wedding has taken place in the family is another common question. Astrologers say that even if a son or daughter married this year, rituals such as tarpan, pind daan and shraddha for ancestors should still be performed during Pitru Paksha. The timing of an auspicious event like a wedding and the rites for ancestors are religiously distinct in nature. So there is no general rule that the shraddha or tarpan due on the ancestors' designated date should be stopped merely because a wedding has been fixed. However, if the wedding date is close, or another religious ritual falls during the same period, the rituals should be planned according to the advice of the family priest.

Nandimukh shraddha is performed before auspicious occasions such as a sacred thread ceremony or a wedding, so that no obstacle arises in these events. Pitru Paksha comes only once a year, so it is considered important to keep ancestors happy and satisfied. It is said that mistakes made while worshipping gods and goddesses are forgiven, but failing to honour or ignoring one's ancestors brings on pitru dosh, angering the ancestors, which is said to bring illness, sorrow and other troubles upon the family.

Those who do not know the exact date of their ancestors' death should perform tarpan, pind daan and shraddha for them on the day of Sarvapitru Amavasya.

Pitru Paksha is in fact a festival observed to worship and please one's ancestors, and there is no need for grief over it; it should be observed with happiness. The scriptures say, "Matru devo bhava, pitru devo bhava," meaning there is no other deity like one's parents, and all happiness comes from their blessings. During Pitru Paksha, one should pray to them daily, perform pind daan at an auspicious time, and also give grain and clothes in charity.