Mahalaya Paksham / Sraddha Paksha
Sun, Sep 7th -  Sun Sep 21st, 2025
Significance of Mahalaya / Sraddha Paksha. 

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The Krishna Paksha (waning moon) of the Úvija Lunar month is known as Mahãlaya Paksha / Sraddha Paksha.

What is special about this fortnight? 
In the Hindu Vedic tradition, this fortnight is dedicated to the Pitrus or the departed ancestors. 

What do we need to do in this period?
One whose parents are departed, he / she should do Sraddha / Tithi / Taddinam for them. 

How to perform this Ceremony?
Consult with your Priest, perform the ceremony with Anna Homam / Hiranya Sraddham, or at least give danam to a priest or feed needy / poor on the particular day in remembrance of your ancestors.

Why do we have to do this?
In the Puranas there’s a true story of an account of how important this period and day really is. The renowned hero of the Mahabharata, Karna (the Pandavas half brother), when he passed on, ascended to the heavenly planets and the great charity he had performed in his lifetime was returned to him hundredfold. But, it was all in gold and silver; there was no food, as he had not given any food in charity! He prayed to the god of death (Lord Yamaraja). So, he was sent back to earth for fourteen days, to make up for this deficiency. For fourteen days, he fed Brahmins and the poor, and offered oblations of water. On his return to the heavenly planets, he had food in plenty. It is these fourteen days that are commemorated in the Mahalaya Paksha. Due to the grace of Yamaraja, it has been ordained that offerings made during this period benefit all the departed souls, whether they are connected to you or not. The offerings reach the ancestors very quickly like an express delivery. This is the boon of Lord Yamaraja. Jai Sri Yamaraja.

While ordinarily when sraddha is performed on the tithi of the deceased by the family, it is only performed for the three generations on the father and mother’s side, during this fortnight, one can perform the sraddha ritual for anyone, including, guru, sishyas, friends, relatives, in laws siblings and even creatures and pets who have departed. 

Some More Information about this period… 

It is said in the Puranas, that performance of the Mahãlaya Sraddha on the Bharani Nakshatram day (if it falls in this fortnight) or the Ashtami day ( 8th day after full moon), theGajachayai or Trayodasi day (13th day after full moon) or the New Moon day (Amavasya)are all propitious. The Vishnupurana states that the sraddha performed on the above three days is equivalent to and as efficacious as performing the sraddha on the banks of the sacred rivers and sacred place such as Gaya . If one’s departed ancestor had taken the Sannyasa ashrama, then the samaradhana or feeding sadhus or Brahmins in his or her name is auspicious and can only be done on the Dwadasi tithi or the 12th day after full moon. 

One may ask why food is offered in oblation. Food and water form the sustenance of life and our ancestors wherever they are, still need the same to sustain. The giving of food is also considered the greatest charity because it is the only gift that the recipient always says “enough, I am full”, and is fully satisfied. 

Why should we do sraddha to the departed?

The reality is we will not be here and be who we are if not for our ancestors. If we owe Mr. X money but he moves away before we pay him our debt, our debt that we owe to him does not go away because he is somewhere else, is it not?

With this prayer to the Pitrs, “O! Pitrs in whichever form you may be, wherever you may be, we wish to remember and pray for your peace and welfare, and offer you the oblations with devotion. Please bless us and forgive us for any omissions and commissions in our life with you on this earth”, may we all express our gratitude to our ancestors and the Lord during this Mahãlaya Paksha.