In short
- Mahalaya Amavasya 2027
- Wednesday, 29 September 2027
- Countdown
- 327 days to goCounted from Fri, 6 Nov
- Tithi
- Ashwin AmavasyaBhadrapada Amavasya (amanta)
- Mahalaya Amavasya 2028
- Monday, 18 September 2028
- Mahalaya Amavasya 2026
- Saturday, 10 October 2026Already past
- Fast
- The karta eats one simple meal after the shraddha
- Observed for
- Peace for the ancestors and their blessing on the family
- Pitru Paksha begins
- Thu, 16 Sep · Aparahna 01:28 PM – 03:54 PM
When is Mahalaya Amavasya 2027? Mahalaya Amavasya 2027 is on Wednesday, 29 September 2027. It falls on Bhadrapada Amavasya (Ashwin Amavasya in the North Indian count); in Bengaluru the tithi runs from Wed, 29 Sep, 10:56 AM to Thu, 30 Sep, 08:06 AM IST. It is also called Mahalaya Amavasye, Sarvapitri Amavasya and Sarva Pitru Amavasya (सर्व पितृ अमावस्या, মহালয়া).
What is it? The Amavasya that ends Pitru Paksha — the day for all the ancestors.
Why do families keep it? Ancestors are said to visit their descendants in this fortnight; shraddha and tarpana on Mahalaya reach every pitru, including those whose tithi is not known.
What happens on the day? Tarpana with sesame and water, pinda daana and a shraddha meal for Brahmins in the afternoon, food for crows and cows, and charity.
When to observe Mahalaya Amavasya in 2027
| Amavasya tithi begins | Wed, 29 Sep, 10:56 AM |
|---|---|
| Amavasya tithi ends | Thu, 30 Sep, 08:06 AM |
| Sunrise | 06:09 AM |
| Aparahna Kaal | 01:22 PM – 03:47 PM |
| Rahu Kaala — keep aside | 12:10 PM – 01:40 PM |
Mahalaya Amavasya dates by year
| Year | Date | Tithi |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Saturday, 10 October 2026 | Bhadrapada Amavasya |
| 2027 | Wednesday, 29 September 2027 | Bhadrapada Amavasya |
| 2028 | Monday, 18 September 2028 | Bhadrapada Amavasya |
| 2029 | Sunday, 7 October 2029 | Bhadrapada Amavasya |
Worked out from the tithi for Bengaluru. Official holiday lists for coming years can differ by a day, so check yours once it is published.
How the days unfold
- Thu, 16 Sep
Pitru Paksha begins · Aparahna 01:28 PM – 03:54 PM
Fifteen days of shraddha: each family offers on the tithi on which their ancestor died.
- Wed, 29 Sep
Mahalaya Amavasya · Aparahna 01:22 PM – 03:47 PM
Shraddha and tarpana for all ancestors, in the afternoon (Kutapa and Aparahna).
What Mahalaya Amavasya means
For every ancestor
Sarva Pitru Amavasya covers all ancestors — those whose death tithi is unknown, those who died far away, and those for whom no one else offers.
Afternoon rites
Shraddha is done in Kutapa and Aparahna, the late morning and afternoon — never at night.
No beginnings
Pitru Paksha is avoided for weddings, griha pravesh and new purchases in most traditions.
Mahalaya in Bengal
Bengal wakes before dawn to the Mahishasuramardini recitation; Devi Paksha and the countdown to Durga Puja begin.
Karna’s meal of gold
Who is in it: Karna, Indra, Yama
Karna, famous for his generosity, died at Kurukshetra and went to svarga.
When he was hungry, he was served gold and jewels instead of food. He asked Indra why.
Indra told him: you gave gold all your life, but never gave food or water to your ancestors.
Karna was allowed to return to earth for fifteen days, during which he offered food and water to his ancestors — the days we keep as Pitru Paksha.
What it teaches: Feed the hungry, and remember those who came before.
Mahalaya Amavasya puja at home, step by step
Getting ready
- 1The karta (usually the eldest son or a male relative; daughters and wives also perform it today) bathes and wears clean clothes.
- 2Cook simple sattvic food without onion or garlic.
The puja
- 1Take the sankalpa with the names and gotra of the ancestors.
- 2Offer tarpana: water with black sesame and kusha grass, three times for each ancestor.
- 3Offer pindas (rice balls with sesame and ghee), or the shraddha meal to Brahmins, as your custom is.
- 4Keep portions for crows, cows, dogs and ants (pancha bali).
Closing the puja
- 1Give food, clothes or dakshina in charity.
- 2Eat after the rites.
What to keep ready for Mahalaya Amavasya
Must have
| What | How much | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| Black sesame (til) | A handful | Tarpana |
| Kusha (darbha) grass | A bunch | Tarpana and seat |
| Cooked rice, ghee, honey | For pindas | Pinda daana |
| Copper vessel with water | 1 | Tarpana |
| White flowers | As needed | Offering |
Good to have
| What | How much | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| Banana leaves | — | Serving the shraddha meal |
Good practice, and what to avoid
Please do
- Do the rites in the afternoon.
- Feed crows, cows and the needy.
- Remember the ancestors by name.
Best avoided
- Hold weddings, griha pravesh or new purchases in Pitru Paksha.
- Use onion, garlic or non-vegetarian food in the shraddha meal.
Chants for Mahalaya Amavasya
Pitru namaskara
ॐ सर्वपितृदेवताभ्यो नमः
ಕನ್ನಡ ಲಿಪಿಯಲ್ಲಿ
ಓಂ ಸರ್ವಪಿತೃದೇವತಾಭ್ಯೋ ನಮಃ
oṃ sarvapitṛdevatābhyo namaḥ
What it means: A bow to all the ancestors.
Mahalaya Amavasya from region to region
Bengal
Mahalaya: tarpan at the Ganga ghats at dawn and the Mahishasuramardini on radio.
Karnataka
Mahalaya Amavasya tarpana at home or at Srirangapatna, Gokarna and other teerthas.
Gaya and Prayagraj
Pind daan at Gaya’s Vishnupad and at the Triveni Sangam through Pitru Paksha.
Have the Mahalaya Amavasya puja done for you
Two ways to do it. At a temple: the pandit takes your family’s name and gotra in the sankalpa and sends you the photos and video. At home: a pandit from our panel comes to you with the vidhi, and you sit for the puja yourself.
Where this comes from
- Garuda Purana and Matsya Purana for shraddha.
- Mahabharata tradition of Karna’s return.
How we work out the dates: Stuti Mandir’s own panchanga engine places the Sun and Moon (Lahiri ayanamsa) and checks the tithi against sunrise, sunset and moonrise in Bengaluru, in IST. A printed panchanga may differ by a minute or so. Where your family’s panchanga or your purohita says otherwise, go with them.
Questions devotees ask us
When is Mahalaya Amavasya 2027?
Wednesday, 29 September 2027. In Bengaluru, Bhadrapada Amavasya (amanta; Ashwin Amavasya in the North Indian count) begins Wed, 29 Sep, 10:56 AM and ends Thu, 30 Sep, 08:06 AM IST.
How many days are left until Mahalaya Amavasya 2027?
327 days, counted from Friday, 6 November 2026. Mahalaya Amavasya 2027 is on Wednesday, 29 September 2027.
When is Mahalaya Amavasya 2028?
Monday, 18 September 2028, on Bhadrapada Amavasya, worked out for Bengaluru.
When was Mahalaya Amavasya 2026?
On Saturday, 10 October 2026. The next one is on Wednesday, 29 September 2027.
What is Mahalaya Amavasya also called?
Mahalaya Amavasye, Sarvapitri Amavasya, Sarva Pitru Amavasya, Pitru Paksha, Shraddh Paksha, Mahalaya and Pitru Amavasya; in Indian scripts, सर्व पितृ अमावस्या, মহালয়া, ಮಹಾಲಯ ಅಮಾವಾಸ್ಯೆ, మహాలయ అమావాస్య.
Will Mysuru and Delhi keep Mahalaya Amavasya on the same day?
Mostly yes. But the sun rises and sets at different times in different towns, and a habba is kept on the day its tithi is running at the right hour — so timings shift, and once in a while the date does too. Change the town above to see yours.
Who should do shraddha on Mahalaya Amavasya?
Anyone who wants to honour their ancestors — especially those who do not know their ancestor’s death tithi or missed it during Pitru Paksha.
Can I book a pandit for shraddha or tarpana?
Yes. Book a shraddha, amavasya tarpanam or pitru dosh puja with a Stuti Mandir pandit at home, or pind daan at Gaya or the Triveni Sangam through our online puja.