Mahalaya Amavasya 2025 Date and Time

Mahalaya Paksha begins on Monday, September 8th. Mahalaya Amavasya falls on Sunday, September 21st, starts at 1:02 am and ends at 1:42 am on Monday, September 22nd.

As per the Amavasyant calendar that South Indians follow, Mahalaya Amavasya falls in Bhadrapada month on New Moon Day (Amavasya).

In North India, where the Purnimant calendar is followed, Mahalaya Amavasya is observed in Ashwin month (September-October).

Mahalaya Amavasya is the new moon day on which Hindus honor their ancestors and perform various rituals prescribed by the scriptures to appease them. It is an important time to connect with one’s ancestors. The day has great significance for Hindus, as they believe that ancestral blessings are essential for a smooth and happy life. The spirits of deceased ancestors can be very displeased if their descendants fail to honor them, and they can cause all kinds of problems in the lives of their descendants. This is called Pitru Dosha (affliction) or Shaap (curse). Hence, Hindus consider it very important to appease their ancestors on this day and gain their blessings.

On this day, families prepare several offerings, including rice balls called pinda. The ritual signifies the deep bond between the living and the dead. Many people also recite the Chandi Path to invoke Goddess Durga's blessings.

‘Mahalayam’ means ‘coming to live together in groups.’ During this period, our ancestors supposedly come down to Earth from Pitru loka and live among their descendants.

Mahalaya Amavasya occurs at the end of the Mahalaya Paksha or Pitru Paksha period, which is a period of 16 days. It is also called Sarvapitri Amavasya or Pitru Paksha Amavasya. On this day, Hindus perform Tarpanam (a sacred ritual) to honor departed ancestors. 

Legend behind Mahalaya Amavasya 

The legend behind this special Amavasya is related to Karna, a character in the Mahabharata epic. He was the son of Kunti and Surya, the Sun god. Following his death in the Kurukshetra War, Karna’s soul reached heaven. There, to his chagrin, he was not given food or water. He was given only gold and silver to appease his hunger and thirst. When he enquired the reason, Yama, the god of death, told him that it was the result of his karma or actions on Earth.

Karna had been a very generous man during his lifetime. He would give away gold and silver to the needy. However, he had never performed any Anna daan rituals to honor his deceased ancestors, as he did not know who his ancestors were. Hence, he received only gold and silver in heaven to appease his hunger and thirst. Upon hearing this, Karna requested that Yama let him return to Earth to perform the ancestral rites, and Yama agreed.

Thus, Karna returned to Earth and performed the ancestral rituals to help his ancestors’ souls attain liberation. 

Significance of Mahalaya Amavasya 

On Mahalaya Amavasya, Hindus worship departed ancestors and appease their souls with offerings of food and water. The belief is that ancestral souls visit the Earth during this time. This day is highly auspicious, as one can perform the Shraddh ritual for any deceased relative, irrespective of the tithi. 

The Tarpanam ritual is a way to express gratitude to and invoke the blessings of one’s ancestors. It can alleviate one’s karmic debts and bring spiritual progress. It can also bestow good health, prosperity, and protection from negative forces. 

Mahalaya Amavasya Rituals

Clean the house thoroughly the day before the ritual. 

On Mahalaya Amavasya, all members of your family must observe a fast and perform the Tarpanam ritual. Once the ritual is complete, offer the food you prepared to a crow. Once the crow has eaten the food, you and your loved ones can consume the meal. 

Visit a nearby temple to pray for the well-being of ancestral souls. 

Donate food, clothing, etc., to the needy. You can also feed animals, as ancestral spirits are believed to reside in them on this day. 

Some people invite Brahmins home, and serve them food after performing the Tarpanam.

They are also given clothes, footwear, and dakshina after the meal. It is also the custom for the family members to get their blessings.

Only sattvik dishes are prepared on this day.

Many women offer a water mixture to the Peepal tree and worship it by lighting a diya.

Temples in Tamil Nadu Where You Can Perform Tarpanam   

• Rameswaram 
• Arasar - Koil Sundara Mahalakshmi Temple 
• Thiruvallur - Arulmigu Veeraraghava perumal Temple 
• Thiruvanmiyur - Marundeeswarar Temple  
• Thila tarpanapuri 

It is very auspicious to visit holy places like Kashi (Varanasi), Gaya, Ujjain, Rameswaram, Innambur, Theerthandapuram,  Kekkarai, and Thila Tarpanapuri at least once in your lifetime and perform Tarpanam. These places have immense spiritual significance. By performing Tarpanam here, one can gain immense blessings and peace for both the deceased ancestors and their descendants. 

Conclusion

Mahalaya Amavasya reminds us that the connection between the dead and the living is eternal and needs to be honoured. By remembering and honoring our ancestors, we can help them attain Moksha and also gain their blessings and protection.