Mahalaya amavasya 2016 date and time

thank: https://www.mykundali.com/festival/shradh/

 Rest In Peace Our Ancestors

Time in India - Time is from 3:18 AM on September 30, 2016 to 4:20 AM on October 1, 2016.

Here, MyKundali presents Shradh 2016 dates are occurring from September 16 to October 1. During Pitru Paksha, the ritual of Tarpan is performed for the departed souls to rest in peace. This Shradh in 2016, let’s ask for the blessings and removal of Pitru Dosh. Know the importance of Shraadh with us.

Shraddh is one of the most significant time to remember our ancestors and pray for the departed souls to rest in peace. As per the Hindu Calendar, during the time of Pitru Paksha, if you offer prayers and perform certain rituals for your ancestors, you will be blessed by them and their souls will rest in peace.

Every year, Tarpan takes place during the time of Shraddh dates. The same rituals will be performed when Shraddha in 2016 commences. We will pray for the departed souls to rest in peace during the Shradh in 2016 .

Before we go ahead and pray for the peace of our ancestors and the dead, let’s find out the significance of Shraddha.

Significance Of Shradh

As per the holy scripture ‘Srimad Bhagavad Gita’, the body is destructible but the soul remains immortal. The soul never takes birth neither it dies. The soul is immortal and ever existent. Hence neither air, water nor fire can destroy it.

The time of Shraadh liberates the soul from the cycle of life and death resulting in salvation. Hence, performing Shraddh during the time of Pitru Paksha is considered extremely important for the departed souls to rest in peace. Tarpan, during the time of Shradh, is equally necessary in order to get rid of Pitra Dosh (bad effects due to the non-performance of rituals of the departed souls). Let’s pray for the peace of the departed souls with full faith and devotion during the days of Shraddh in 2016.

The ritual of performing Shraddh frees the departed soul. Read on to know more about the Shraddha dates in 2016.

Shradh Dates In 2016

Every year during the time of Shraadh, various Hindu families pray for their ancestors to rest in peace. During these sixteen days of Shraddh, each day is dedicated as Tithi (date) of an ancestor. The Tithi on which the Shradh takes place is considered to be the date on which the person has passed away. Hence, based on that Tithi, prayers are offered for the peace of the departed soul. If a person passed away on the day of Saptami, his Tarpan would be performed on Saptami Shraadh. The last day of Shradh that is Amavasya is the day when we pray to God that all the departed souls rest in peace and may find the place in heaven. This time during Pitra Paksha of Shraadh in 2016, let’s pray for the peace of the departed souls.

The dates of Shraddh in 2016 are as follows:

Date	Date	Shradh	Significance
September 16	Friday	Purnima Shraddha	On this day of Shraddh, Tarpan is performed for those who left this world on Purnima.
September 17	Saturday	Pratipada Shraddha	This is performed for the people who died on Pratipada Tithi.
September 18	Sunday	Dwitiya Shraddha or Dooj Shradh	This day the Tarpan takes place for the people who passed away on Dwitiya Tithi.
September 19	Monday	Tritiya Shraddha or Teej Shradh	This is performed for the people who departed from earth on Tritiya Tithi.
September 20	Tuesday	Maha Bharani or Chaturthi Shraddha	This Shraddha is performed when the Bharani Nakshatra prevails during the time of Pitru Paksha. Bharani constellation either prevails on Chaturthi or Panchami every year. In 2016, it is happening on Chaturthi Tithi.
September 21	Wednesday	Shashthi Shraddha or Panchami Shradh	Panchami Shradh is special as Tarpan takes place for the people who died unmarried. Tarpan or pind daan performed on this day is equivalent to the Gaya Shraddha.
September 22	Thursday	Shashthi Shraddha or Chhath Shradh; Saptami Shradh	This day the Tarpan will take place for the people who passed away on Shashthi as well as Saptami Tithi.
September 23	Friday	Ashtami Shraddha	The Shraddh is performed for the people who passed away on Ashtami Tithi.
September 24	Saturday	Navami Shraddha or Avidhava Shraddh or Matra Navami	Shraddh is performed for the people who passed away on Navami Tithi. On this Tithi men perform the Shraddh for the wives. Pind Daan or Tarpan takes place for the mother that is why it is also named as Matra Navami.
September 25	Sunday	Dashami Shraddha or Dasami Shradh	This day the Tarpan takes place for the people who passed away on Dasami Tithi.
September 26	Monday	Ekadashi Shraddha or Gyaras Shraddh	This Shraddh is performed for people who passed away on Ekadasi Tithi.
September 27	Tuesday	Dwadashi Shraddha or Baras Shradha	This is performed for people who have taken up Sanyas or renunciation before death. Tarpan takes place for the people who died on Dwadashi Tithi.
September 28	Wednesday	Magha Shraddha or Trayodashi Shraddh or Kakbali, Balabholani Teras or Teras Shraadh	This Shradh is for the peace of dead children and people who passed away on Trayodashi Tithi. It is also known as. Magha Shraddh as it is performed when Magha Nakshatra (constellation) prevails during Aparahana Kaal.
September 29	Thursday	Chaturdashi Shraddha or Chaudas Shraddh	On this day of Shraddh, Tarpan is performed for the persons who have died an unnatural death (accident, murder or suicide).
September 30	Friday	Sarva Pitru Amavasya or Amavas Shradh or Sarvapitri Moksha Amavasya Shradh	This Tithi is performed for all ancestors, irrespective of the way they died. If somebody is not able to perform Shraddha on the requisite Tithi, may perform on Sarvapitri Moksha Amavasya Shradh.

On the Tithi of Amavasya, the families ask for the blessings of their ancestors. On the Amavasya Shradh, in the evening, a special (Atta or flour) Diya is lighted. This lighting of Diya signifies Pitru Vidaai (final goodbye) to the departed souls. During this time, it is believed that post the rituals of the Shradh, their souls would rest in peace. Every Tithi of Shraddh is the day to pray for the peace of the departed souls, as each day is different from the other as per the Tithi of the departed soul. On this Shradh in 2016, pray for the dead so that their souls rest in peace.

During the time of Shradh, certain important rituals are performed as a gratitude toward the departed souls.

Let’s discuss the significance of performing rituals during the Pitra Paksha for our ancestors, before practicing them in 2016.

Rituals Of Shradh In 2016

During the time of Shraddha, we pray to your ancestors that their souls rest in peace. There are certain rituals which are performed during the Pitru Paksha Shradh. It is believed that if these rituals are performed with full faith, devotion, and respect, the departed souls will rest in peace and they will protect us from all the negatives and evils.

The rituals of Shraddh are as follows:

1. It is believed that Shraadh of any ancestor or any departed soul in the family should be performed by any male member. It could either be the eldest son of the departed soul or the head of the family.
2. During the time of Shraddh, one should pray religiously and control one’s anger.
3. On the various Tithi of Shraadh, Brahmins are invited at home and special prayers (Tarpan) are offered to the departed souls.
4. Post the ritual of Tarpan, Brahmins are offered home cooked food, brand new clothes, special sweets and Dakshina (money). This offering has a special reason in the Hindu mythology. It is a belief that this Brahman Bhoj reaches the ancestors.
5. Along with the Brahmins, crow is also fed with the same food, as crow is believed to be the messenger from Yama. Along with the crow, dog and cow are also fed.
6. During the time of Shraadh, one can make Mahadan (big donation). This ritual is performed in order to free oneself from the Pitra Dosha. It brings positivity along with the blessings of the departed soul. Some of the items of the Mahadaan are:

• Ghee (purified butter)
• Rice
• Gangajal (water of river Ganga)
• Mustard Oil
• Wheat
• Salt
• Steel utensils
• Shoes, socks or chappals
• Clothes (towels, Lungi, kurta)
• Fruits
• Vegetables
• Kali Til (sesame seed) and milk

This Shraadh in 2016 when you make Tarpan along with these rituals, pray for the peace of the departed soul. Before this Shraddha in 2016, let’s know the legend associated with the concept of Shraddh.

Legend Of Shradh

Shraddha in Pitru Paksha is the time to remember, thank and honor our ancestors. The relevance of Shradh can be best known from one of the greatest epic of all time Mahabharata.

Post the war between the Kauravas and Pandavas, when everything ended, Karan (Danveer Karna, one of the greatest legends in the war of Mahabharata) died and reached heaven, he was offered food in the form of gold and silver. On this, he questioned Indra the reason for offering him such a food. On this, Indra told Karna that throughout his life donated gold, diamond and silver, but, never donated any food in the name of his ancestors. Karna reverted that as he was not aware about his ancestors; hence, he never did it. So, Indra asked Karna to come back to earth, where he donated food, made Tarpan during the sixteen days.

It is believed that during the time of Shraddh, ancestors come to earth to bless their kin. Hence, during the time of Shraddh, it is important to make the Tarpan in order to get rid of Pitru Dosha. Remember the ritual of Tarpan (offering food, water) during the Shraddh in 2016.

As per the Hindu mythology, there are some important places in India for performing the rituals of Shraadh for the departed souls to stay in peace and be happy.

Holy Places For Shradh Rituals

It is believed that if you perform Shradh rituals at specified holy places, the departed souls stay happy and their souls get liberated.

The places that are best suitable to perform Shraadh rituals are mentioned below. This 2016 also, go ahead and perform Shradh for your ancestors:

• Varanasi
• Prayaga
• Gaya
• Kedarnath
• Badrinath
• Rameswaram
• Nasik
• Kapal mochan Sesh Ambadi

So, do not miss out to perform the rituals of Shradh by offering a thankful tribute to the departed souls at these holy places in 2016.

During the time of Pitru Paksha, there are certain things which should be avoided while performing Tarpan.

Things To Be Avoided During Pitru Paksha

During Shraadh, try to restrain yourself from doing all the things mentioned below:

1. Avoid buying any new clothes during the time of Pitru Paksha.
2. Any auspicious event like marriage, or birth ceremony is completely prohibited during the time of Shraadh.
3. Try to avoid having a haircut during the sixteen days of Shradh.
4. Restrain from eating non vegetarian food, alcohol and tobacco during the time of Shraadh.
5. Try to avoid eating at others’ house during the time of Shraadh. It is considered that if you eat (salt debt) at someone's home their Pitru is transferred to the host. This can only be removed by balancing the act or through a remedial Pooja.

Hence, try to avoid all the above mentioned things on Shradh in 2016.

Ohh! departed souls and ancestors,
May your souls rest in peace.
These sixteen days of Shradh in 2016,
We pray for your blessings and kindly remove our sins.
We will make you happy by performing Tarpan and making Brahmin Bhoj.
Protect us and remove our Pitru Dosh.

Thus, it is believed that if the rituals of Shradh are performed with full faith, devotion and dedication the ancestors feel satisfied. Ancestors protect us from all evils, negativity and bless us. So, perform the ritual of Tarpan for the peace of the departed souls during the time of Shradh in 2016.

also : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pitru_Paksha