Mahalaya is a significant 16-day period, which is also known as the Shradh Paksha or Pitru Paksha. These 16 days are dedicated to performing rituals and offerings for deceased ancestors. Mahalaya Amavasya marks the end of this period. The food prepared and consumed during this time is sattvik to honor ancestral customs. Here is a guide about traditional foods to eat and rituals for Mahalaya 2025.
Things to Eat in Mahalaya 2025
Traditional Food
Mahalaya meals stick to strict dietary traditions that prioritize sattvik food to spiritually purify the body and mind. This means that tamasic and rajasic ingredients like meat, garlic, onion, and more are avoided. Cooking is simple and avoids strong flavors to keep the meal holy and digestible. Key points about the food preparation are:
- Dals and Lentils: Moong dal (yellow gram) and urad dal (black gram) are used extensively, instead of toor dal and chana dal.
- Vegetables: Only certain native vegetables are allowed in the preparations. Bitter gourd, broad beans, clustered beans, raw banana, sweet potato, cucumber, and yams are the most common ones. The vegetables that should be avoided are onions, carrots, garlic, tomatoes, potatoes, cauliflower, radishes, and brinjals.
- Spices: The spices have to be freshly ground, as no pre-made mixes are allowed. Green and red chilies are often omitted or minimized.
- Oils: Coconut oil and ghee are preferred for cooking.
Rituals and Customs
- The food is first offered to ancestors through rituals like Pind Daan (offering rice balls) and Tarpan (offering water mixed with black sesame seeds).
- The family members can consume the food only after it is offered to the ancestors as it is believed to be blessed.
- The brahmins, too, must be fed this prepared food as it is considered to be auspicious.
- Feeding animals such as cows, dogs, and especially crows is part of the ritual to honor departed souls.
- Meals should usually be simple, nutritious, easy to digest, and pure, reflecting respect and devotion toward ancestors.
Common dishes
- Vegetable stews, bean curry, bitter gourd curry and snake gourd variations.
- Rasam and sambar are made with home-ground spice powders.
- Sweet dishes like moong dal payasam or jaggery-based sweets.
- Traditional snacks like lentil fritters and appam (rice pancakes).
- Simple staples are rice and buttermilk or yogurt.
Summing Up
The food prepared and consumed during Mahalaya is centered on simple, sattvik recipes using allowed dals, fresh spices, native vegetables, jaggery, coconut, and sesame. The rituals emphasize purity, offering food first to ancestors, and then consuming it as a blessed meal. It is believed to bring peace to ancestral souls and prosperity to the entire family.
