Month 6August – September
Bhadrapada
भाद्रपद
Presiding Mantra
ॐ हृषीकेशाय नमः
Om Hrishikeshaya Namah
Ritu (Season)
Monsoon (late)
वर्षा ऋतु (Varsha)
Presiding Aditya
Parjanya Aditya
Deity
Hrishikesha
Gregorian
August – September
Significance
Krishna Paksha of Bhadrapada is Pitru Paksha (Mahalaya) — 16 days dedicated to offering food and water to ancestors. Most important shradh period of the year.
Major Festivals
Ganesh Chaturthi, Hartalika Teej, Onam, Radha Ashtami, Anant Chaturdashi, Pitru Paksha begins
Major Vrata
Hartalika Teej (Shukla Tritiya — Parvati's vrata, observed by unmarried women for husband, married women for husband's long life), Ganesh Chaturthi 10-day festival, Pitru Paksha shradh
Ritual Character
Heaviest festival month. Ganesha installations, Krishna avatara celebrations, ancestor offerings.