Fourteenth Day of Pitrupaksha, Fourteenth Day of Mahalaya Paksha, Fourteenth Day of Shraddha, Chaturdashi Shraddha, Ghat Chaturdashi Shraddha, Ghat Chaturdashi, Ghayala Chaturdashi Shraddha, Ghayala Chaturdashi, Chaudas Shraddha
The shraddha that is performed on the Chaturdashi thiti of the Krishna Paksha Bhadrapada Masam or the 14th day of the Bhadrapada month in the waning phase of the moon is Chaturdashi Shraddha. According to North Indian Purnimant Calenders, Chaturdashi Shraddha falls in the month of Ashwin.
Chaturdashi Shraddha is the penultimate date of the 15 day long sacred Mahalaya Paksha of the Bhadrapada month. Shraddha is done only to the ancestors who have not died naturally and were dead because of a weapon, accident, Suicide or were murdered. Hence the name Ghat Chaturdashi Shraddha or Ghayala Chaturdashi Shraddha. As Chaturdashi is 14 this is also known as Chaudas Shraddha.
Shraddha for the people who have died on the Chaturdashi Thiti is not performed on Chaturdashi Shraddha and is done only on the next day i.e. on Amavasya Shraddha Thiti. As per the process of Shraddha Tarpan and Pinda Daan are done to please the ancestors, who after satisfied with the Shraddha would bless the family with wealth and prosperity and return. It is advised that the lunch during the Shraddha process should happened during the Aparahna time of the day.
