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As the sacred fortnight of Pitru Paksha draws to a close, Mahalaya Amavasya 2025 arrives on Sunday, September 21, marking one of the most spiritually significant days in the Hindu calendar. Revered as Sarva Pitru Amavasya, this day is dedicated to honoring ancestors through Shraddha rituals and tarpan offerings. It also heralds the arrival of Goddess Durga, initiating the countdown to Sharadiya Navratri and Durga Puja festivities, especially in Bengal and eastern India.
This year’s Mahalaya holds heightened spiritual resonance, falling just a day before Navratri begins. Devotees across the country are preparing to bid farewell to their forebears and invoke divine blessings for the days ahead.
Key Highlights From Mahalaya Amavasya 2025
- Mahalaya Amavasya falls on Sunday, September 21
- Amavasya Tithi begins at 12:16 AM on September 21 and ends at 1:23 AM on September 22
- Auspicious timings for rituals include Kutup Muhurat (11:50 AM – 12:38 PM), Rohina Muhurat (12:38 PM – 1:27 PM), and Aparahna Kaal (1:27 PM – 3:53 PM)
- Rituals include tarpan, Brahmin bhoj, pind daan, and offerings to animals and nature
- In Bengal, Mahalaya marks the symbolic descent of Goddess Durga from Mount Kailash
Spiritual Significance And Mythological Roots
Mahalaya Amavasya is believed to be the day when ancestors return to Pitru Loka after visiting their descendants during Pitru Paksha. Performing Shraddha and tarpan on this day ensures peace for departed souls and blessings for the living. According to Hindu mythology, Mahalaya also commemorates the divine preparation for Goddess Durga’s battle against Mahishasura, symbolizing the triumph of good over evil.
In Bengal, the day begins with the recitation of Mahishasura Mardini verses at dawn, a tradition that has become inseparable from the cultural fabric of Durga Puja. The spiritual duality of Mahalaya—farewell to ancestors and welcome to the goddess—makes it a uniquely powerful occasion.
Puja Rituals And Observances
Families across India observe Mahalaya Amavasya through a series of structured rituals aimed at expressing gratitude and seeking ancestral blessings. The following steps are traditionally followed:
1. Morning Bath
Begin the day with a ritual bath to purify the body and mind before performing any ceremonies.
2. Home Preparation
Clean the house and puja space to create a sanctified environment for rituals.
3. Brahmin Invitation
Male family members invite Brahmins to perform Shraddha rites and tarpan.
4. Brahmin Bhoj
Women prepare sattvik meals, which are served to the Brahmins as part of the ancestral offering.
5. Tarpan Ceremony
A male family member performs tarpan by offering water mixed with sesame seeds and barley in a river or sacred water body.
6. Pind Daan And Offerings
Food is offered to cows, dogs, crows, and ants, symbolizing universal nourishment and compassion.
7. Dakshina And Blessings
After the bhoj, Brahmins are offered clothes, shoes, and dakshina. Family members seek their blessings by touching their feet.
8. Lighting Of Lamps
In the evening, lamps are lit near water bodies and sacred trees like Peepal to guide ancestral spirits back to their realm.
9. Durga Invocation
Devotees chant Durga Saptashati or mantras to invite the goddess into their homes and hearts.
Why Mahalaya Is Special This Year
In 2025, Mahalaya Amavasya falls just ahead of Sharadiya Navratri, intensifying its spiritual potency. The seamless transition from ancestral reverence to divine celebration offers devotees a rare opportunity to align with both past and future energies. It is a day of closure, renewal, and invocation—where memory meets devotion.
Looking Ahead
As Mahalaya Amavasya unfolds, families across India will gather in reverence, reflection, and ritual. Whether through sacred chants or silent offerings, the day invites a deeper connection to lineage, legacy, and divinity. With the goddess’s arrival imminent, Mahalaya becomes not just a farewell—but a beginning.
Sources: Zee News, Times of India, Mahakal.com.
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