Mahalaya Amavasya 2020 Date — Thursday, September 17, 2020
When is Mahalaya Amavasya in 2020? Mahalaya Amavasya 2020 falls on Thursday, September 17, 2020.
Observance: Sarva Pitru Amavasya (Mahalaya). City calendars may vary slightly by sunrise and amanta or purnimanta tradition — confirm with your local mandir.
Mahalaya Amavasya 2020 — full list of dates
| Observance | Date & day | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Purnima Shraddha — Pitru Paksha begins | Wed, 2 September 2020 | |
| Sarva Pitru Amavasya (Mahalaya) | Thu, 17 September 2020 | Main day |
| Navratri begins — Ghatasthapana | Sat, 17 October 2020 |
Why we celebrate
Bhadrpad Amavasya — Mahalaya paksha ends; all ancestors are worshipped. Central to Pitru Paksha before Navratri.
How it is celebrated
Tarpan, shraddha, feeding brahmins and crows, Mahalaya chandi path in Bengal.
Puja timing
Shraddha in aparahna (afternoon) after tarpan; avoid Rahu kaal.
Foods & offerings
Pinda daan, kheer, rice, sesame; vegetarian only.
Rituals
- Wake early, bathe, and offer tarpan to ancestors (pitru) if it is a pitru-related Amavasya.
- Light sesame oil lamp; offer water (tarpan) facing south with black sesame if doing shraddha.
- Visit Shiva or Vishnu temple; Amavasya is sacred to both.
- Charity of food, clothes, or sesame to the needy.
- Avoid starting major new ventures; focus on introspection and pitru seva.
- Evening deepam and simple sattvic meal after puja if not fully fasting.
Mahalaya Amavasya dates by year
| Year | Date & day |
|---|---|
| 2019 | Sat, 28 September 2019 |
| 2020 | Thu, 17 September 2020 |
| 2021 | Wed, 6 October 2021 |
| 2022 | Sun, 25 September 2022 |
| 2023 | Sat, 14 October 2023 |
Hindu festivals around Mahalaya Amavasya 2020
- Anant Chaturdashi 2020 date — Tue, 1 September 2020
- Onam 2020 date — Mon, 31 August 2020
- Ganesh Chaturthi 2020 date — Sat, 22 August 2020
- Hartalika Teej 2020 date — Fri, 21 August 2020
- Sharad Navratri 2020 date — Sat, 17 October 2020
- Dahi Handi 2020 date — Thu, 13 August 2020
- Janmashtami 2020 date — Wed, 12 August 2020
- Durga Puja 2020 date — Sat, 24 October 2020
- Dussehra 2020 date — Mon, 26 October 2020
- Sharad Purnima 2020 date — Sat, 31 October 2020
- Raksha Bandhan 2020 date — Mon, 3 August 2020
- Karva Chauth 2020 date — Wed, 4 November 2020
