I am asked about the Significance of 1. Mahaalaya and 2. most important days of Mahaalaya. I must admit that I do not know the significance of many things in Sanaathana Dharma. I am a student of Sanaathana Dharma , being a life long learner. Every day I learn things that are new to me and everyday is a learning experience.

And I love to share what I learnt with learned colleagues. Let me narrate an event ; When Sootha Mahaamuni went to Naimisa AraNya , the assembled SaunakaAdi Munis asked Muni Sootha many things . Sootha tells them in Sanskrit which Iquote in Telugu Language followed by English translation;here it goes as :

" Nenu Vinnantha , Nenu Kannantha , Naaku Thelisinantha " meaning Sootha says " I will tell all of you what I heard , what I have seen and what I came to know from Gurus , Elders etc.

1.Mahaalaya is Home - coming great event of our Ancestors on parole with permission of YamaDharmaRaaja to honor ous as our Guests. They might have come from any of Pithru Lokas-Bhoo, Bhuvar, Suvar , Mahar , Jano ,Thapo ,Sathya, Go Lokams , Vaikhunttam, Kailaasam , and mostly from Yama Lokam under the Jurisdiction of Yama Dharma Raaj .

2.Every day of Fifteen Days of Mahaalaya Paksha is important, but most important days ( the significance of these beyond my comprehension ) are as follows : - a. Thursday , Sept.27 - First Dayof Mahalaya - significance -DAY ONE

b. Saturday , Sept 29 - Mahaa BharaNi - BharaNi is the Day's Nakshathra - I do not know the significanceof BharaNi.

c. Tuesday , Oct , 02 - Vyatheepaatha Mahaalaya ( people who died in a mishap , I think - I may be wrong.)

d. Sunday , Oct , 07 - Yathi Mahaalaya - probably for Yathis ( those who embraced Sanyaasa Aaashram )

e. Tuesday , Oct , 10 - Sasthra Hatha Mahaalaya - probably meant for those who died at war.( by a weapon )

f. Wednesday and Thursday , October 10 and 11 Amaavaasya (New Moon) depends upon where one is .( when I was an young boy, which I was long time ago , I used to think Amaavaasya means NO MOON DAY and only later I came to know it is New Moon Day - Birth of New Moon = Death is Birth of New Life Journey, and hence we have to give plenty of food to Pithrus to last Them on Their Long Journey.)

In addition Pithrus must be propiated on Their Thithi Day, Every New MoonDay, every Ravi Sankramanam = every time Sun moves from one Raasi to Another and every time when one undertakes Pilgrimage . Om Maatha -Pithrubhyo Namaha
Om. Rutham Vachmi , Sathyam Vachmi - Avathu Maam..Saanthi. Maam Rutham Vadishyaami - Maam Sathyam Vadishyaami .Truth , Whole Truth , Nothing But Truth. So Be It.