Some days feel like thin veils between worlds. Ekadashi Shraddha is one of those days. It is believed that the love and remembrance you send upward on this day actually reaches your ancestors, carrying peace to them and blessings back to you. It is a bridge of memory, gratitude, and light. In 2025, Ekadashi Shraddha, which will be observed on September 17, is an act of love honouring ancestors and keeping the thread of your family’s story alive. Let’s understand how this day is observed, its timings, and the rituals that make it meaningful.

Ekadashi Shraddha 2025: Date and Timings

Before we step into meaning, let’s note the schedule:

Ekadashi Tithi Begins: 12:21 am, September 17

Ekadashi Tithi Ends: 11:39 pm, September 17

Kutup Muhurat: 11:43 am to 12:31 pm

Rohina Muhurat: 12:31 pm to 01:20 pm

Aparahna Kaal: 01:20 pm to 03:46 pm

Parana (Breaking the Fast): September 18, 06:02 am to 08:28 am

According to tradition, the Kutup and Rohina muhurats are the most auspicious. If missed, rituals can still be completed during Aparahna Kaal. Importantly, Parana (the breaking of the fast) must be done within Dwadashi. Skipping it is said to cancel the merit of the observance.

Why is Ekadashi Shraddha Important?

Ekadashi Shraddha is performed for those who passed away on an Ekadashi date, as well as for ascetics and renunciants. Within Pitru Paksha, the sacred fortnight of ancestor remembrance, this day holds even deeper meaning. It is said to bring peace to wandering souls, release them from unresolved ties, and open the way for their blessings to flow back into the family line. For descendants, it is a reflection. Our roots stretch backwards as much as they stretch forward. By pausing to honour those who came before, we find strength, clarity, and quiet guidance for the journey ahead.

The Right Way to Perform Ekadashi Shraddha

Every detail of Shraddha is meant to express respect, purity, and remembrance. Here are the key steps:

• Purity and Preparation: Begin with a morning bath and clean clothing. The house should be tidy. This reflects clarity of mind and heart.

• Kusha and Water: The ritual begins by offering water on a seat made of sacred grass (kusha). This simple act calls the ancestors to presence.

• Tarpan: Water mixed with black sesame, rice, and barley is poured while chanting mantras. Chanting Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya during Shraddha is believed to soothe the ancestors and connect them with divine peace.

• Pind Daan: Small offerings (pindas) are made from rice, flour, sesame, and barley. These symbolise nourishment for departed souls.

• Food Offerings: Satvik meals, usually kheer, puri, and simple vegetables, are prepared without onion or garlic. A portion is offered to the ancestors, then shared with family and others.

• Feeding and Giving: Crows, cows, and dogs are also offered food, as they are seen as carriers of blessings to the departed. A Brahmin or guest is fed with respect, followed by a gift or dakshina.

• Mantra Recitation: Reciting the Pitru Sukta during Shraddha is considered especially powerful. You may also chant the Gayatri Mantra or the Mahamrityunjaya Mantra for peace and protection. To make it simple, you can listen to and chant along at AstroSure.ai.

Simple, Modern Additions

While rituals are powerful, remembrance doesn’t have to stay bound by tradition. Here are some meaningful, modern ways to connect with your ancestors on Ekadashi Shraddha:

• Light a Candle or Diya: Place it near family photos or heirlooms, silently sending gratitude.

• Cook a Family Recipe: Preparing a dish your grandparents loved is a living offering.

• Write a Letter: Writing down what you wish you could say to them. Keep it under your pillow or in a sacred space.

• Acts of Kindness: Donate food, clothes, or time to someone in need, dedicating it in their name.

These small acts carry the same essence: remembrance, respect, and love.

Significance of Ekadashi Shraddha

Ekadashi Shraddha carries a depth that goes beyond ritual. It is seen as a bridge between generations, a way to honour those who came before us while seeking harmony for the living. Each act, whether offering water, food, or prayers, is believed to carry meaning that touches both ancestors and descendants.

• Peace for Souls: It is believed to free ancestors from restlessness and guide them toward peace.

• Blessings for Descendants: Families who observe Shraddha are said to gain prosperity, health, and emotional strength.

• Removing Pitru Dosha: Shraddha during Pitru Paksha is said to help release ancestral karmic debts.

• Spiritual Clarity: The act itself becomes a meditation on life, death, and the cycles that connect us all.

Ekadashi Shraddha is about love across generations, gratitude for what we inherited, and humility before time itself. In honouring those who walked before us, we quietly learn how to walk with more grace ourselves.

Ask Agastyaa at AstroSure.ai, and find peace through ancestral wisdom

Ekadashi Shraddha 2025 FAQ 

1. When is Ekadashi Shraddha in 2025?

Ekadashi Shraddha 2025 will be observed on September 17. It falls during the Pitru Paksha period dedicated to ancestor remembrance. Specific timings for rituals like Kutup and Rohina muhurats, and Parana (fast-breaking) are important for proper observance.

2. What is the significance of Ekadashi Shraddha?

This day honours ancestors, especially those who passed away on an Ekadashi tithi. It is believed to bring peace to their souls, liberate them from lingering attachments, and shower blessings on their descendants.

3. How is Ekadashi Shraddha performed?

Key steps include morning purification, offering water with sacred grass (kusha), performing tarpan and pind daan with mantras, preparing satvik food for offerings, feeding Brahmins or guests, and chanting powerful mantras like Pitru Sukta and Mahamrityunjaya.

4. What are the auspicious timings to perform Ekadashi Shraddha rituals?

The most auspicious are Kutup Muhurat (11:43 am – 12:31 pm) and Rohina Muhurat (12:31 pm – 1:20 pm). Rituals can also be done in Aparahna Kaal (1:20 pm – 3:46 pm) if these are missed. Parana (breaking the fast) should be done within the Dwadashi tithi on September 18.

5. Can Ekadashi Shraddha remove Pitru Dosha?

Yes, performing Shraddha during Pitru Paksha is believed to help clear ancestral karmic debts (Pitru Dosha), bringing peace and prosperity to the family.