Archive · 6 Oct 2026
Mahalaya: A Sacred Time to Honour Ancestors
The article says Mahalaya is a special time for remembering family members who have died.
It calls these ancestors Pitrus.
Pitru Paksha begins after the full moon in the month of Bhadrapada, according to the article.
Families may choose a day that matches the lunar date when their ancestor died.
If they do not know that date, they can observe the ritual on Sarva Pitru Amavasya.
Family members gather and remember their parents and grandparents.
They name ancestors and offer water with black sesame seeds.
The article presents this as a way to show gratitude and seek the ancestors’ blessings.
The article describes Mahalaya as a time to honour and remember ancestors, or Pitrus.
Pitru Paksha begins the day after the full moon in the amanta month of Bhadrapada.
Families traditionally make offerings on the lunar date, or tithi, of an ancestor’s death.
If that date is unknown, the observance may be held on Sarva Pitru Amavasya, also called Mahalaya Amavasya.
The described ritual includes invoking ancestors and offering water with black sesame seeds.
- Who
- Families observing the tradition and the ancestors they honour.
- What
- An account of Mahalaya and rituals for honouring ancestors during Pitru Paksha.
- When
- Pitru Paksha begins the day after the full moon in the amanta month of Bhadrapada; the ritual is performed on the relevant tithi or Sarva Pitru Amavasya.
- Where
- The article says families ideally assemble at the eldest son’s place.
- Why
- To express gratitude and remember deceased parents, grandparents, other relatives, and Gurus.
- Observance
- Pitru Paksha, the ancestral fortnight
- Traditional start
- The day after the full moon in the amanta month of Bhadrapada
- Usual ritual date
- The tithi corresponding to the ancestor’s death
- Alternative date
- Sarva Pitru Amavasya, also called Mahalaya Amavasya
- Offering described
- Water offered with black sesame seeds
- Ancestors invoked
- Parental, grandparental, and great-grandparental generations, along with close relatives and Gurus