Mahalaya Amavasya is the new moon (Amavasya) of Bhadrapada month that concludes Pitru Paksha — the fifteen-day fortnight dedicated to the ancestors (pitru). In Telugu it is known as Peddala Amavasya, the 'new moon of the elders', and it is the single most important day of the year for honouring departed family members. It falls just before the start of Sharada Navaratri, marking the transition from remembering the ancestors to invoking the Divine Mother.
Pitru Paksha and the Debt to Ancestors
Hindu tradition speaks of three debts every person carries — to the gods (deva rina), to the sages (rishi rina), and to the ancestors (pitru rina). Pitru Paksha, the dark fortnight preceding Mahalaya Amavasya, is the time set aside to repay the debt to the ancestors through remembrance, offerings, and prayer. Families perform rites on the tithi corresponding to the day an ancestor passed away; those who do not know the exact tithi, or wish to honour all ancestors together, perform them on Mahalaya Amavasya — hence its other name, Sarva Pitru Amavasya.
Tarpanam and Shraddha Rites
On Peddala Amavasya, families perform tarpanam — the offering of water mixed with black sesame (til) and darbha grass to the ancestors — and shraddha, in which cooked food is offered and brahmins or the needy are fed in the ancestors' name. A portion of food is traditionally set aside for crows, which are regarded as messengers of the pitru. The rites are ideally performed by a son or male relative under the guidance of a priest, facing south, the direction of the ancestors.
The Spirit of the Day
Beyond the ritual mechanics, Peddala Amavasya is about gratitude and continuity — acknowledging that we exist because of those who came before us, and that their blessings sustain the living. It is a day of simplicity and remembrance rather than celebration: families cook the favourite dishes of departed elders, share memories, and seek their blessings. Performing these rites with sincerity is believed to bring peace to the ancestors' souls and prosperity to the family.
Booking a Priest for the Rites
Shraddha and tarpanam have precise procedures that vary by family tradition (gotra, sampradaya) and should be performed with the correct sankalpa and mantras. If you are away from your native place or unsure of the process, a qualified Telugu purohit can guide or perform the rites on your behalf. Mana Panchangam lists verified pandits who conduct pitru karyams, tarpanam, and shraddha — so the tradition can be kept even far from home.