Sacred places for ancestor rites
Each place has its own tradition. Open a place to see the rites performed there, the best time to go and how to plan, with the next dates for your city.
Badrinath and Brahma Kapal, Uttarakhand
Open only part of the year, from spring to about the Diwali season; Pitru Paksha falls in the open season, and the mild months are May to June and September to October.
बोधगयाBodh Gaya, Bihar
Pitru Paksha is the traditional Hindu occasion at nearby Gaya; October to March is the best weather, while April to June is very hot.
द्वारकाDwarka, Gujarat
Amavasya days and Pitru Paksha are traditional; November to February is the pleasant season, while April to June is hot and the monsoon brings rain and rough seas.
गयाGaya, Bihar
Pitru Paksha is the traditional peak, but it falls in the hot, humid end of the monsoon; October to March is the most comfortable weather.
गोकर्णGokarna, Karnataka
Pitru Paksha and Amavasya are traditional; November to February is the best weather, while June to September has heavy monsoon rain and rough seas.
हरिद्वारHaridwar, Uttarakhand
Amavasya, Pitru Paksha and Kumbh years are traditional; February to April and October to November are comfortable, while May to June is hot and July to August is the monsoon.
कुरुक्षेत्रKurukshetra, Haryana
Amavasya, Somvati Amavasya and solar eclipses are the traditional occasions; October to March is pleasant, while May and June are hot and July to August is humid monsoon.
ओंकारेश्वरOmkareshwar, Madhya Pradesh
Amavasya, Pitru Paksha and Kartik Purnima are traditional; October to March is pleasant, while April to June is very hot and the monsoon swells the river.
पेहोवाPehowa, Haryana
The Chaitra Chaudas fair in spring is the traditional peak; October to March is pleasant, while May and June are hot and July to August is humid.
प्रयागराजPrayagraj, Uttar Pradesh
Magha Mela (Pausha to Magha) and Kumbh years are the great occasions; November to February is cold but dry, and the river is calmer than in the monsoon.
पुरीPuri, Odisha
Pitru Paksha, especially Mahalaya Amavasya, is the traditional peak; October to February is pleasant, while the Rath Yatra season and summer bring crowds and heat.
पुष्करPushkar, Rajasthan
Kartik Purnima and the days before it are the traditional peak; October to March is the pleasant season, while April to June is very hot.
रामेश्वरमRameswaram, Tamil Nadu
Amavasya days, Mahalaya Amavasya and the Tamil Aadi and Thai Amavasya are traditional; January to March is best, while April to June is hot and October to December can bring heavy rain and cyclones.
ऋषिकेशRishikesh, Uttarakhand
Amavasya and Pitru Paksha are traditional; February to April and October to November are the most comfortable months, while July to September is monsoon.
सिद्धपुरSidhpur (Matri Gaya), Gujarat
The Kartik fair, ending on Kartik Purnima, is the traditional peak for mothers' Shraddha; November to February is pleasant, while April to June is very hot.
सोमनाथ प्रभास पाटनSomnath and Prabhas Patan, Gujarat
Amavasya days and Pitru Paksha are traditional; November to February is the pleasant season, while April to June is hot and the monsoon brings heavy rain and rough seas.
तिरुनल्लारुTirunallar and the Tamil tirthas for Tarpan
Aadi, Purattasi (Mahalaya) and Thai Amavasya are the key Tamil days; January to March is the most comfortable season, while April to June is hot and October to December has heavy northeast monsoon rain.
त्र्यम्बकेश्वर नासिकTrimbakeshwar and Nashik, Maharashtra
Amavasya, Pitru Paksha and the Simhastha Kumbh years are traditional; October to February is cool and dry, while June to September is a green but wet monsoon.
उज्जैनUjjain, Madhya Pradesh
Pitru Paksha, Amavasya and the Simhastha Kumbh years are traditional; October to March is the pleasant season, while April to June is very hot.
विदेश में पितृ कर्मAncestor rites in the USA and abroad
Pitru Paksha and Amavasya are the traditional days; the rites can be done at home or at a temple at any time of year according to the panchang.
वाराणसीVaranasi (Kashi), Uttar Pradesh
Pitru Paksha and Amavasya are traditional; October to March is the pleasant season, while May and June are very hot and the monsoon floods the ghats.