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Home » Other Astrological Information » Events / Festivals » Mahalaya Paksha
According to Hinduism, Bhadrapada, Pausha and Chaitra are three unclean months of a calendar.
'Paksha' means 'fortnight'. Hence Mahalaya Paksha is a period of 15 days + 1 day, a total of 16 days. The second-half of the month of Badrapada is generally observed as the Mahalayapaksha. This period is also called Pitru Paksha, Pitri Pokkho, Sola Sraddha (Sixteen Shraddas), Kanagat, Jitiya, Mahalaya Paksha or Apara paksha. This is a period in which Hindus pay homage to their ancestors ('Pitaras' or 'Pitrudevathas') and departed souls.
It is not a period of celebration but a period of solemnity and calls for making offerings and paying homage to the departed souls. Hence conducting auspicious programs is to be avoided.
It begins with Purnima day and ends with the Amavasya day (Pitra Amavasya). The 9th day which falls on a Navami day is called 'Avidhava Navami'. On this day, Vayasa is offered (Feeding to the crow), in honor and in the name of the departed Sowbhagyavatis in the family.
Homage (also called Anushtanam) to the father can be done at Gaya and for mother and other relations at Siddhapur Patan. Other regions include Allahabad Sangamam, Brahmasarvar (Pushkar theerth, Rajasthan), Sri Kalahasthi, Kedarnath, Tyambakesawaram, Kurukshetra, River Ganga, Saraswati, Krishna, Godavari and Naimisaranyam. Hence anushtanam can be done at the above mentioned holy places or at places where there is no population (such as river shores etc).
Some rituals being performed include: