Panchangam 10 October 2026 (Saturday): Mahalaya Amavasya, Sarva Pitru Amavasya, Tithi, Nakshatra and Puja Vidhi

Quick answer: Saturday 10 October 2026 is Mahalaya, the Sarva Pitru Amavasya. In Hyderabad, Amavasya lasts until 09:19 PM IST and Hasta nakshatra until 09:42 PM. It is the closing day of the fortnight of the ancestors, the eve of Navratri, and in Telangana the first day of Bathukamma (Engili Pula).

Few days in the Hindu year hold so much at once. In the morning, families remember those who came before them with water, sesame and a quiet prayer. By evening, the mood starts to turn: the dark moon gives way tomorrow to the bright fortnight of Ashwina, and with it the nine nights of the Goddess. If you can do only one thing today, sit for a few minutes, name your parents and grandparents, and offer them your gratitude. That simple act sits at the heart of the day.

Today's panchang (Hyderabad)

Source: Drik Panchang day panchang for Hyderabad. Tithi and nakshatra end times are a single moment, valid across India in IST; sunrise and sunset differ slightly by city. Saturday is traditionally dedicated to Lord Venkateswara and to Shani Deva.

Religious significance of Mahalaya Amavasya

The dark fortnight of Bhadrapada (amanta reckoning) is known as Pitru Paksha or Mahalaya Paksha, a period set aside for shraddha, the rites for one's ancestors. Its final day, the Amavasya, is called Sarva Pitru Amavasya, the Amavasya of all ancestors. Tradition holds that offerings made today reach every forebear, including those whose death tithi is unknown or whose rite was missed during the fortnight. The texts on shraddha (for example, the Garuda Purana and the Dharmashastra literature) discuss these rites at length; family practice, however, varies widely, so follow what your elders or priest advise.

Mahalaya also opens the festive season. In Bengal it marks the start of Devi Paksha, the fortnight of the Goddess, and many households wake before dawn to hear the Mahishasuramardini recitation. For the full Bengal schedule, see our Durga Puja 2026 dates from Mahalaya to Sindoor Khela.

In Telangana, women begin Engili Pula Bathukamma today, stacking seasonal flowers into a cone, placing a small turmeric Gauramma on top and singing in circles. The festival continues for nine days to Saddula Bathukamma on Sunday 18 October. Day-by-day naivedyam is in our Bathukamma 2026 dates guide.

Simple puja vidhi for today

Essentials are few: a clean place, water, a lamp and a sincere mind. Everything else is optional custom.

1. Bathe early and wear clean clothes. Many families keep the morning simple and avoid elaborate cooking until the ancestral offering is made.
2. If your family performs tarpanam, the person who usually does it offers water mixed with black sesame (til) with the right hand, facing south, while naming the ancestors. A priest can guide the exact sequence; follow your family's method.
3. Light a lamp before a picture of Lord Venkateswara or your family deity and offer a flower or tulasi leaf. Saturday devotees may also light a sesame-oil lamp for Shani Deva in the evening.
4. Set aside a portion of food for a cow, crows or anyone in need. Feeding others in the names of ancestors is one of the oldest Mahalaya customs.
5. End with a few minutes of silence, thanking your ancestors by name.

No materials at home? Pour a little water into a cup, hold it in your hands, think of your parents and grandparents, and offer it to the roots of a plant. Then give a meal or a donation to someone in need. That is a complete offering.

Mantra for the day

Om Namo Venkatesaya (oṃ namo veṅkaṭeśāya): "Salutations to Lord Venkatesha." A short, well-known name-mantra for the Lord of Tirumala, suited to Saturday. Chant it 11 or 108 times after lighting the lamp, as a prayer for the well-being of the family and the peace of the ancestors. No initiation is needed.

Fasting today

Some people keep a light fast until the ancestral offering is complete, then eat a simple satvik meal. This is a family custom, not an obligation. Elderly people, pregnant women and anyone with a medical condition should not feel obliged to fast; consult a doctor if you are unsure.

What you can do today

• Write down the names of your ancestors for at least three generations and keep the list in your puja space.
• Offer tarpanam or a simple water offering before midday, while Amavasya prevails.
• Feed a cow, a dog or crows, or donate a meal at a temple annadanam.
• Prepare the kalash, soil and seeds you will need for Ghatasthapana tomorrow morning.
• In Telangana, gather flowers for Engili Pula Bathukamma and join the evening songs.
• Light a sesame-oil lamp at dusk, around the 05:58 PM sunset in Hyderabad.
• Avoid quarrels and harsh words; the day is meant for gratitude.

With family and children

Children understand ancestors through stories, not rituals. Bring out old photographs and tell them one thing each grandparent loved: a song, a dish, a habit. Let them help set aside the food for the cow or birds. In the evening, they can help arrange flowers for Bathukamma or make a simple list of the nine Navratri goddesses they will meet over the coming week. Our Navratri stories for kids offer one short story per night.

Hindus abroad: today's panchang in your city

These are local clock times for each city, computed with HinduTone's panchang calculator, validated against Drik Panchang; festival dates abroad can differ by a day — follow your temple's panchang. Never add or subtract hours from the Hyderabad times to get your local time.

Amavasya prevails at sunrise in every city listed, so families abroad also keep Mahalaya today. Temples in many countries hold group tarpanam in the morning; check with yours.

Frequently asked questions

Is Mahalaya Amavasya on 10 October 2026?

Yes. Drik Panchang lists Saturday 10 October 2026 as Ashwina Amavasya, Darsha Amavasya and Sarva Pitru Amavasya. In Hyderabad the Amavasya tithi lasts until 09:19 PM IST, so the whole daytime, when tarpanam is traditionally offered, falls within it.

Who should offer tarpanam on Sarva Pitru Amavasya?

Traditionally, the person who performs the family's annual shraddha offers tarpanam, and this day is especially for ancestors whose death tithi is not known or was missed during the fortnight. Family customs differ, so ask an elder or the family priest. Anyone can remember their forebears with a lamp, a prayer and an act of charity.

Why is the month Bhadrapada for some calendars and Ashwina for others?

In the amanta calendar used in Telugu states, the month ends on Amavasya, so 10 October is the last day of Bhadrapada. In the purnimanta calendar of North India, the month changed at the previous full moon, so the same day is in Ashwina. The tithi and the observance are the same.

Is Navratri starting on 10 October?

No. Navratri and Ghatasthapana begin the next morning, Sunday 11 October 2026, on Ashwina Shukla Pratipada. In Telangana, however, the Bathukamma festival opens today with Engili Pula Bathukamma.

Can I start new things on Amavasya?

Many families avoid starting major new ventures on Amavasya and keep the day for remembrance, charity and quiet prayer. That is a matter of custom rather than a rule that brings harm. If you need a muhurta for an important event, consult a local panchang or priest.

A reflection for the dark moon

The Amavasya sky has no moon, and that emptiness is the lesson. Before the Goddess is welcomed tomorrow, we pause to remember that we are links in a long chain. Whatever we have, someone before us made possible. Gratitude to the ancestors is the doorway to Navratri.

Editor's note

Editor's note (9 October 2026): Panchang timings and festival observances can vary by location, regional calendar and family tradition. This guide follows Drik Panchang for Hyderabad (IST). Please verify local puja timings with a trusted panchang or priest.

Previous and next day

Next day: Panchang Sunday 11 October: Ghatasthapana, Maharaja Agrasen Jayanti. Whole month: October 2026 Hindu festival calendar.

Related guides

• Navratri 2026: complete guide to the nine days
• Navratri 2026 Day 1: Maa Shailaputri (Sunday 11 October)
• Bathukamma 2026 dates: Engili Pula to Saddula
• Durga Puja 2026 in Kolkata, day by day
• Shani Deva: the cosmic judge of karma
• Tirumala Venkateswara Temple