Bhadrapada Purnima (Pitru Paksha Start)
भाद्रपद पूर्णिमा (श्राद्ध पूर्णिमा / उमा महेश्वर व्रत)
Bhadrapada Purnima heralds the sacred fortnight of Pitru Paksha (Shradh Paksha), where offerings are dedicated to ancestors who passed away on a full moon tithi, alongside the Uma Maheshwar Vrat.
August 27, 2026
Thursday
09:00 AM to 01:15 PM
Auspicious forenoon window
07:05 PM
Chandra Arghya window
August 26, 2026 at 08:34 PM
until August 27, 2026 at 06:48 PM
ॐ पितृभ्यः स्वधायिभ्यः स्वधा नमः। ॐ नमः शिवायै च नमः शिवाय॥
Oṁ pitṛbhyaḥ svadhāyibhyaḥ svadhā namaḥ | Oṁ namaḥ śivāyai ca namaḥ śivāya ||
Salutations and oblations to the ancestral Pitrus. Salutations to Goddess Uma and Lord Shiva.
Spiritual & Scriptural Significance
Taking a sacred bath, reciting the Satyanarayan Katha, and performing Tarpan on Bhadrapada Purnima purifies the mind and establishes deep peace in the lineage.
Pauranic Vrat Katha & History
The Agni Purana explains that on Bhadrapada Purnima, Lord Shiva and Devi Parvati are worshipped in their combined Uma-Maheshwar form to grant household harmony, prosperity, and intellect. Furthermore, giving charity of food and raw grains on this day satisfies ancestors residing in the realm of Pitruloka.
Step-by-Step Purnima Vrat & Puja Vidhi
- 1Perform morning oblations and Tarpan with black sesame, Kusha grass, and water for Pitrus.
- 2Conduct Satyanarayan Puja in the forenoon with fresh fruits, Tulsi, and panchamrit.
- 3Observe fasting or a single sattvic fruit meal.
- 4Feed cows, dogs, crows, and underprivileged individuals with warm cooked food.
- 5Offer evening Arghya to the Full Moon while praying for the liberation and peace of departed ancestors.
Frequently Asked Questions: Bhadrapada Purnima (Pitru Paksha Start)
Why is Bhadrapada Purnima called Shradh Purnima?
Although Pitru Paksha officially covers Krishna Paksha, ancestors who departed on any Purnima Tithi of the year are offered their annual Shradh on Bhadrapada Purnima.
What is the Uma Maheshwar Vrat on Bhadrapada Purnima?
A sacred fast dedicated to Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati described in the Bhavishya Purana to resolve familial disputes and grant healthy children.