For Hindu families in America, Pitru Paksha comes with a practical puzzle: India is half a day ahead. Here is how the fortnight lines up with US time zones, and how families here observe it.
Pitru Paksha 2026 dates
Most panchangs list Pitru Paksha 2026 from Sunday 27 September to Saturday 10 October in India, ending on Mahalaya (Sarva Pitru) Amavasya. Regional calendars can differ by a day. For the meaning of the fortnight, see Pitru Paksha 2026: dates, meaning and rituals.
What time is a dawn offering in India, in US time?
| US time zone | During Pitru Paksha (until 31 Oct) | From 1 November 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Eastern (New York, New Jersey, Atlanta, DC, Boston) | 8:30 PM, evening before | 7:30 PM, evening before |
| Central (Chicago, Houston, Dallas) | 7:30 PM, evening before | 6:30 PM, evening before |
| Mountain (Denver) | 6:30 PM, evening before | 5:30 PM, evening before |
| Arizona (Phoenix — no daylight saving) | 5:30 PM, evening before | 5:30 PM, evening before |
| Pacific (Bay Area, Seattle, Los Angeles) | 5:30 PM, evening before | 4:30 PM, evening before |
| Alaska | 4:30 PM, evening before | 3:30 PM, evening before |
| Hawaii | 2:30 PM, day before | 2:30 PM, day before |
Times assume an offering at about 6:00 AM India time. US clocks go back on 1 November 2026, which matters for Amavasya offerings later in the year.
Indian date or US date?
A tithi is a lunar day, and when it begins depends on where you are. There are two common approaches among US families:
- Follow the Indian panchang — natural when the Shradh or Gau Seva is performed in India. Your family's day in India is the evening before in the US.
- Follow a panchang for your US city — many US temples publish local calendars, and some families prefer to observe on the local tithi.
Neither is wrong. Tell the priest which your family follows.
How US families observe Pitru Paksha
- At home: offering water with black sesame (available at Indian grocery stores) while saying the ancestors' names, and cooking a simple satvik meal. See how to do tarpanam at home in the USA.
- At a local temple: many US temples hold Mahalaya Amavasya tarpanam; book early.
- In India, on their behalf: Gau Seva, Kaka Bali and full Shradh performed at dawn in India — which in the US means joining live after dinner the evening before.
The evening timing is one reason many American families find it meaningful: the whole family, children included, can gather after dinner and hear their grandparents' names being said.
From anywhere in the USA
Gau Seva, Kaka Bali and Matsya Daan from $10; complete Pitru Paksha Shradh $79. Join live in the evening, US time.
Offerings for US familiesFrequently asked questions
When is Pitru Paksha 2026 in the USA?
Pitru Paksha 2026 runs from 27 September to 10 October in India. Because India is 9½–12½ hours ahead, each day in India begins on the previous evening in the USA.
When is Mahalaya Amavasya 2026 in the USA?
Mahalaya Amavasya is 10 October 2026 in India. A dawn offering in India falls on the evening of Friday 9 October across the US — about 8:30 PM Eastern and 5:30 PM Pacific.
Should I follow the Indian date or the US date for Shradh?
Families differ. Many follow the Indian panchang, especially when the rite is performed in India; others use a panchang calculated for their US city. Follow your family's custom or your priest's advice.
