Is property purchase prohibited during Pitra Paksha/Shraadh? Find out!

Why does India’s real estate sector go through a complete lull during the 15 days of Pitra Paksha throughout the country? Is there a written rule prohibiting property investments? Or, is it one of those unsaid rules that are followed diligently through generations? We try to find answers to these questions.

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Pitra Paksha: The premise

India is a diverse country with long-rooted and well-seated belief systems. The depth of these belief systems is evident from the fact that market players tweak their businesses to align with these factors. One such high-impact period in India is the Pitra Paksha, a 15-day period during which Hindus pray for their ancestors, perform rituals and observe abstinence. According to the Hindu calendar, Pitra Paksha starts on the Purnima Tithi of the Shukla Paksha in the month of Bhadrapada and ends on the Amavasya Tithi of the Krishna Paksha.

Also known as Shraadh, this period has a huge impact on India’s real estate.

Shraadh period 2022

The Pitra Paksha period would be observed between September 10 and September 25 in 2022.

Shraadh impact on real estate

Even though property investments are made by other communities, housing sale during the Pitra Paksha remains next to negligible among Hindus. Acutely conscious of this tradition, developers use this period to prepare for the upcoming festive season and plan interesting offerings and discounts to cash in on the improved buyer sentiment. Home buyers, on the other hand, get busy with R&D to grab a great deal during the festive season.

This 15-day window is thus used by both parties to prepare for the big sale – starting the nine-day Navratri festival and culminating towards the end of January.

“One of the biggest misconceptions about the Shraadh period is that it is inauspicious. This is entirely wrong. This period is simply dedicated to paying your respects to your ancestors. For this precise reason, people buy new things and purchase a variety of objects for charity,” says Dr Priyanka Jain, who has her doctorate in astrology from Delhi University.

This means that investing in property is not prohibited. It is simply postponed for the period after Shraadh, at the outset of the festivities since it is more conducive to making new beginnings.

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Sunita Mishra

An alumna of the Indian Institute of Mass Communication, Dhenkanal, Sunita Mishra brings over 16 years of expertise to the fields of legal matters, financial insights, and property market trends. Recognised for her ability to elucidate complex topics, her articles serve as a go-to resource for home buyers navigating intricate subjects. Through her extensive career, she has been associated with esteemed organisations like the Financial Express, Hindustan Times, Network18, All India Radio, and Business Standard.

In addition to her professional accomplishments, Sunita holds an MA degree in Sanskrit, with a specialisation in Indian Philosophy, from Delhi University. Outside of her work schedule, she likes to unwind by practising Yoga, and pursues her passion for travel.
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