Mahalaya is observed on the Amavasya day in the Hindu month of Ashwin or Ashwayuja (September-October). Mahalaya 2026 date is October 10, Saturday. Time is 8:58 PM on October 9 and ends at 8:33 PM on October 10. The last day of Pitru Paksha fortnight, the period sacred for doing rituals and offering oblations to the souls of the departed ancestors, ends on Mahalaya day. Durga Puja rituals also commence on Mahalaya day.
The rituals and rites on Mahalaya day are performed early morning on riverbanks or on seashore. The main offering made on Mahalaya Paksha to ancestors is food. It is believed that the offering made during this period will benefit all the departed souls. Charity in the form of food is also done by people.
Shradh on Mahalaya can be performed to all those who departed from the world on any day or anytime. The ritual can be performed by both men and women. It is one of the way of showing one's profound sense of gratitude to the departed souls for their blessings. There is a belief that the souls of ancestors attain peace and moksha after the ritual.
The Hindus do not see any dichotomy between the visible and the the invisible worlds, between the living and the dead. Hinduism brings the invisible worlds into continual contact with the visible. The dead are not regarded as dead by merely as living elsewhere.
There are five parts to a Shraddha - invocation, worshipping through fire or any other means, feeding living beings, food offering to ancestors and offering water to ancestors.
The offerings generally consists of til (sesame seeds), water and pinda (cooked rice balls). Other food is also offered according to local custom. The pindas offered are later given to crows.
Devotees also perform the ritual at sacred place like Gaya, Prayagraj, Pushkar, Varanasi, Kurukshetra, Haridwar and on the banks of sacred rivers.
Brief Idea On How To Perform Mahalaya
Men performing the ceremony sit facing south and women sit facing east. Darbha grass is spread on the ground with the tips facing south. The devotee kneels on the ground with the left knee touching the ground. Cooked rice made into balls with ghee and gingelly seeds and holy water are offered to the ancestors who are invoked. Those wearing the sacred thread perform the ceremony by reversing the sacred thread from the left shoulder to the right. Relations who congregate for sraddha are known as sapinda (sharers of the pinda) or samanodaka (sharers of water).
The ritual of Mahalaya is mentioned in the Hindu scriptures like Agni Purana, Kurma Purana, Padma Purana, Vishnu Purana, Grihya Sutras, Smritis of Manu and Yajnavalkya.
Tarpan — the ritual of offering to one’s ancestors. At dawn, a copper vessel is filled with raw milk, black sesame seeds, uncooked rice, white flowers, and holy Ganges water (or water from a river), and the mixture is poured into a pond, river, or an open space near the house. It is believed that this act grants peace to the departed souls and brings their blessings upon the family.
Feeding animals and birds on this day is also considered very auspicious. Even a handful of rice or a little water offered to them is said to bring great merit.
Not only Tarpan, but standing beside the poor and helpless is also deemed highly virtuous on this day. Donating food, clothes, or any essential items to those in need is believed to bring good fortune. Feeding children to their fill on Mahalaya is regarded as a noble deed that invites joy and prosperity into the home.
Many people clean their houses, decorate their entrances, and prepare vegetarian meals. In some places, priests are invited and served with devotion. Rising early, maintaining mindfulness, and spending the day with sincerity and faith are also observed practices during this time.
Mahalaya is not merely a celebration of the Goddess — it carries within it the essence of duty, charity, and devotion.
Mahalaya – Durga Puja
Mahalaya also heralds the advent of Goddess Durga to earth. Mahalaya marks the beginning of ‘Devipaksha’ and the countdown to Durga Puja.
On Mahalaya day, invitation is given to Goddess Durga to descend on to the earth along with her family. In Bengal, Goddess Saraswati and Goddess Lakshmi are considered part of the family of Durga.
The ritual of painting the eyes of the Durga idol (Chokkhu Daan) happens on Mahalaya.
Chanting mantras and singing bhajans dedicated to Goddess Durga is the main event on Mahalaya day. The most famous bhajans is the – ‘Jago Tumi Jago.’ The Chandi Kavya or Chandi Stotram is also recited on the day.
