Pitru Paksha Puja at Home: Rules, Timings, Dos & Don’ts Every Family Must Know

Agnivesh Pandey

12 December, 2025

Table of Contents

Step-by-Step Practical Guide
Important Dos During Pitru Paksha
Important Don’ts During Pitru Paksha

If you plan to do Pitru Paksha Puja at home, then you are confused about what the right rules, timings, and what is right or wrong. You are not alone. Most families are struggling with mixed advice and half information. The real, accurate, practical way it should be done, based on experience, follows

Step-by-Step Practical Guide

Step 1: Know the Correct Day for Your Ancestor

Perform the puja on the Tithi, the death lunar date of the deceased person.
If the exact Tithi is not known, perform it on Mahalaya Amavasya.
If necessary, one person can perform for all ancestors on the same day.

Step 2: Choose the Right Time

The best time is from sunrise to noon.
Avoid performing in the evening or after sunset.
If unavoidable, complete the tarpan before sunset.

Step 3: Prepare the Puja Space

Clean the room in which the puja is to be performed.
Put a clean piece of cloth on the floor facing south.
Keep a photograph of the ancestor if available. If not, intent is enough.

Step 4: Essential Puja items you really need

You do not need much. Just arrange:

Clean water
Black sesame seeds
Rice
A small vessel
Incense sticks and a lamp
Simple vegetarian food is available

Do not overcomplicate it with irrelevant stuff shown in videos online.

Step 5: How to Perform Tarpan at Home

Sit facing south.
Take water mixed with sesame seeds and rice.
Offer water with your right hand and remember your ancestor's name in your mind.
Do this three times with a full focus and respectfully.
After tarpan, light the lamp and offer food.

Step 6: Food Offering and Donation

Offer simple food such as rice, dal, roti, fruits, or kheer.
After the puja, feed cows, birds, or donate the food to those in need.
Even one honest donation is enough.

Step 7: Your Personal Conduct During Pitru Paksha

Maintain complete silence during the puja.
Keep your thoughts calm and respectful.
Avoid multitasking or reaching for your phone during rituals.

What Actually Works vs. What Doesn’t

What Actually Works in Real Life

Performing tarpan with clean hands and a clean heart.
Keeping the food simple and pure.
Donating food or other essentials regularly during these days.
All my relations. Remembering ancestors with gratitude, not fear.

These acts carry more spiritual significance than expensive settings.

What Does Not Work and Should Be Avoided

Performing rituals at random times for convenience.
Using alcohol, meat, or onion in food on puja days.
Loud music, parties, or celebrations during this period.
Performing the rituals only for the sake of formality without attention.

Also, most people think that long mantras are compulsory. They are not. Your intention is more important than the pronunciation.

Important Dos During Pitru Paksha

Wake up early and take a bath before the puja.
Wear clean and simple clothes.
Eat only sattvic food.
Let the house be quiet and orderly.
Offer water daily, even if a full puja is not possible.
Help people in need without boasting about it.

These actions directly strengthen the purpose of Pitru Paksha.

Important Don’ts During Pitru Paksha

During these 15 days, do not commence new business initiatives.
Avoid cutting hair or nails on your puja day.
Do not argue or create conflict at home.
Avoid sleeping in daytime after the puja is over.
Do not waste any food offered to ancestors.

These may seem small, but over the years, I have seen these mistakes disturb the spiritual balance of the household.

Quick Checklist / Summary

Use this simple checklist, and you'll never go wrong:

Confirm the correct Tithi
Do puja between sunrise and noon.
Sit facing south.
Water, sesame seeds, rice, lamp, and plain food.
Offer taa rpan with concentration
Donate or feed birds, cows, or the needy
Eat simple vegetarian foods
Avoid celebrations, alcohol, and arguments.

Thus, if these points are followed honestly, then your Pitru Paksha Puja performed at home would be spiritually complete.

Conclusion

From years of guiding families through these rituals, I can tell you one thing clearly: ancestor worship is not about fear or pressure. It is respect, gratitude, and continuity. You do not have to be perfect; just do the basics right with sincerity and calmness. This will be enough to put your ancestors at ease and bring peace to your home as well.