Mahalaya Paksha is a time period during which Hindus in India pay homage to their ancestors. It is a 16 lunar-day period and is also referred to as Pitru Pakshya, Pitri Pokkho and Sola Shraddha. The term Pitru Paksha translates to “fortnight of the ancestors”. The death rites performed during Pitru Paksha are called sraddha or Shraddha.