Mahalaya amavasya 2023 falls on Saturday 14th of October
Mahalaya Amavasya is a very important and a sacred day in the Hindu calendar on which the ancestors are worshipped and their souls are pleased by offering darpan.
The amavasya(new moon ) that falls in the tamil month of puratasi during (september -october) during the mahalaya paksha is called the Mahalaya Amavasya. Mahalaya paksha is the first day that marks the beginning for the celebrations and worship of Goddesses Durga through out india as navaratri or Dussehra.
Mahalaya Amavasya is a special occasion, when families come together to remember and pay homage to their departed ancestors, by performing Darpan and offering water and food to the departed souls.
How to worship on Mahalaya Amavasya day
On the previous day to Mahalaya Amavasya day, the entire house and house holds must be cleaned and kept ready.
On the day of Amavasya the members in the family must observe fasting and offer darpanam to their ancestors. After performing the rituals and offering the darpan , the family members offer the food to the crow and wait until the crow eats the food. Later the members in the family consume the food and share it with friends and family.
People also visit the nearest temples and seek the blessings from the lord and also pray for the well being of the ancestral souls.
The Significance Mahalaya Amavasya
Mahalaya Amavasya is a great day on which one can seek the blessings of the departed ancestors by pleasing their souls by offering water and food.It is believed that on this day the hungry souls of our ancestors visit the earth during this time. By performing the rituals on this day , we can seek their guidance to live a peaceful , healthy and happy life on earth.
Darpan is one of the ways of expressing gratitude for the blessings they have bestowed upon us. It's a reminder of the sacrifices and opportunities that they have made and the wisdom they passed down through generations.
By seeking their blessing one can gain prosperity, good health, and protection from negative forces.
Hindus believe that life is a cycle of birth and rebirth, and it is possible that our ancestors may still carry unresolved karmic debts. By performing Darpan, we can help alleviate these debts and aid in their spiritual progress.