Mahalaya Amavasya

Pitru Paksha, meaning the fortnight of the ancestors, is a period in the Hindu month of Bhadrapada, which is usually in September. It comes after poornima which comes immediatly after the Ganesh Chaturthi. It starts on the Pratipada and ends on Amavasya day known as Sarva-pitri amavasya or Pitru Amavasya or Mahalaya amavasya. Departed ancesters are worshipped it is called Shraadh -no other auspicious work is done during this period. 

According to  belief, the souls of our departed ancestors reside in Pitruñloka, a place between heaven and earth till they go to the higer worlds. During Pitru Paksha, the sun enters Libra or Tula. At this time the spirits leave Pitruloka and reside in house of their descendants for a month till the sun enters Scorpio or Vrichchhika and till the full moon. Hence Hindus worship our ancestors during the 1st dark fortnight. 

The entire 15days of Mahalaya are good for ancestral worship but the Sarva-pitri or Mahalaya amavasya is  the best  for the worship of ancestrals irrespective of the day they died. It is the most important day of the Pitru Paksha. Those who have forgotten to perform shraddha or could not do, can do Shradh on this day. A shraddha performed on this day is considered as one performed in the holy place Gaya, which is considered the best place for Shradh. 

If you know how to perform the Shradh ritual nothing like it. If not you can call a priest and get it done. Traditionally a crow, a cow and a dog are also fed. If you cannot do it simply offer food to the poor.

Mahalaya Amavasya is the day when you remember all the departed souls and thank them and wish peace for them.

There is an ancient tradition in which the family members take a few sesame seeds and little bit of rice, and then they think of their ancestors and say, ‘May you be contented, may you be contented, may you be contented.’ 

They say this three times and then they drop the little grains of sesame seeds with some water.

The significance of this ritual is to tell the departed that – If you still have some desires in your mind, know that they are like sesame seeds. They are not significant, just drop them. We will take care of them for you. You be free, happy and contented! There is huge universe in front of you. The universe is infinite, so look forward and go; drop whatever is pulling you back. This is called Tarpana.

Tarpana means bringing satisfaction and fulfillment to the departed. It is done to tell them to be contented and move further.

Water is the symbol of love. To give anyone water means giving love. 

At the time of Mahabharata War, Karna was killed, and he went to heaven. He was welcomed there. After sometime, he was hungry, and asked for food. They gave gold in a plate, which he could not eat. So he went to the King of God's Indra, and asked him the reason, Indra said, through out your life, you have fed people with Gold, you have never fed people food, so even here you will get only gold. He asked Indra Dev to grant him permission, to return to earth so he can feed the people on earth, and his wish was granted. 

Another story is this was the period, when the Pandava's set on their journey to heaven after their earthly duties.