Mahalaya Amavasya 2026
Mahalaya Amavasya (Sarva Pitru Amavasya) ends Pitru Paksha. Shraddha on this day reaches all ancestors, including those whose death tithi is not known. In Bengal, Mahalaya also announces the coming of Goddess Durga.
In 2026, Mahalaya Amavasya is on Saturday, 10 October 2026.
- Aparahna muhurat: 10 Oct 2026, 1:17 PM to 3:37 PM
- Amavasya begins: 9 Oct 2026, 9:36 PM
- Amavasya ends: 10 Oct 2026, 9:20 PM
Date and timings for New Delhi.
How the date is fixed
Mahalaya Amavasya falls on Amavasya of Bhadrapada (amanta) / Ashwin (purnimanta). The day is decided by the tithi prevailing in the afternoon (aparahna, the fourth fifth of the day). When the tithi touches that time on two days, the day it covers more is used.
Calculated for New Delhi. Festival dates can differ by a day between cities and between regional traditions; your family priest's panchang has the final word.
How it is celebrated
People perform tarpan at rivers and ghats in the morning and shraddha in the afternoon. In Bengal the pre-dawn radio recital "Mahishasura Mardini" and the painting of the goddess's eyes (chokkhu daan) mark the start of the Durga Puja season.
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Frequently asked questions
When is Mahalaya Amavasya in 2026?
In 2026, Mahalaya Amavasya is on Saturday, 10 October 2026. (New Delhi)
Why do calendars sometimes show different dates for Mahalaya Amavasya?
Hindu festivals follow the lunar tithi, which begins and ends at different clock times. Each festival has a rule about which part of the day the tithi must cover — sunrise, midday, dusk or midnight. When the tithi straddles two days, calendars that apply the rule for a different city, or a different tradition, can land on different days. We show the rule we used and the tithi timings so you can check.