Pitru Tarpana (Mahalaya Paksha)
Water and sesame offerings to ancestors, performed during Mahalaya Paksha, on Amavasya, or on solar transitions. A shorter rite than full shraddha and suitable for families away from their native place.
Remembrance is kept on the days tradition sets for it — some once, some every year — and in the way your family has always kept it.
The sequence differs by region and by family tradition — yours will be confirmed before the day. We describe what families usually observe; we never promise outcomes.
How is Pitru Tarpana (Mahalaya Paksha) booked, and what does it cost?
On House of Purohit, a verified Purohit performs Pitru Tarpana (Mahalaya Paksha) at your home in Bengaluru starting from ₹1,500, and the ceremony takes about 1h. Every price is shown before payment, the samagri (ritual items) list is provided in advance, and the Purohit is matched to your language and family tradition (Smartha, Vaishnava, Madhwa, Tamil Iyer). Families unsure whether this is the right ceremony can talk to a Pandit free before booking.
What you arrange
The room
- Clear space facing south
Things to keep ready
- Note down ancestors’ names and gotra
- Keep black sesame and a wide vessel ready
Who takes part
- Karta should bathe before the rite
What the Purohit brings
- His own knowledge of the rite, and the texts for it.
- The samagri kit — everything used in the ritual itself — with the Standard and Elaborate packages.
- His travel to your home, in every package.
- What samagri is needed for Pitru Tarpana (Mahalaya Paksha), and who brings it?
- At home, the family usually arranges a few things — note down ancestors’ names and gotra; keep black sesame and a wide vessel ready; karta should bathe before the rite, and the rest of the list on this page. The ritual items themselves come in a samagri kit with the Standard and Elaborate packages; otherwise your Purohit sends the list ahead of the day.
- Can Pitru Tarpana (Mahalaya Paksha) be done in a flat?
- Yes — most ceremonies we arrange are in apartments. Tell us if the space is small, or if there are smoke alarms; where a fire ritual is part of it, your Purohit plans for the room you have.
- What if the muhurat falls in Rahu kalam?
- When you choose a date, each time window shows its muhurat and whether it overlaps Rahu kalam. Families usually avoid it where the day allows; if it cannot be avoided, your Purohit will say what your tradition does.
- Who takes part in Pitru Tarpana (Mahalaya Paksha)?
- A verified Purohit conducts it; the person or couple the ceremony is for sits for the sankalpa, and family may join. Nothing else is needed from you but the name said aloud at the start — and a gotra, if your family knows it.
- How long does Pitru Tarpana (Mahalaya Paksha) take?
- About 1h, though this can vary with your family's tradition.
- Can House of Purohit provide the Purohit?
- Yes — a verified Purohit performs Pitru Tarpana (Mahalaya Paksha) at your home, with pricing shown before you book.
- Is Pitru Tarpana (Mahalaya Paksha) available in Bengaluru?
- Yes, in Bengaluru, from ₹1,500.
★★★★★“Wonderful experience. Arrived 15 minutes early, set up beautifully, and the chanting was clear and unhurried. Highly recommend.”
Reschedule free, with at least 3 full days’ notice