Mahalaya (Sarva Pitru Amavasya) · Mahalaya, Sarva Pitru Amavasya

Culture of origin: Hindu · Cultural

Holiday sources: Hinduism

Sarva Pitru Amavasya, "the new moon of all the ancestors", is the last and most important day of Pitru Paksha: rites are offered for all ancestors, whatever the lunar day of their death, and those who missed a shraddha can perform it now; a shraddha on this day is held to be as fruitful as one at Gaya. In Bengal, Mahalaya marks the start of the Durga Puja festivities, and at daybreak many listen to Mahishasuramardini, a radio programme broadcast every year on Mahalaya since 1931.