Thirteenth Day of Mahalaya Paksha, Thirteenth Day of Pitru Paksha, Thirteenth Day Shradda, Significance of Trayodashi in Mahalaya Paksha
The trayodashi or Triyodasi of the Bhadrapada Krishna Paksha or the thirteenth day of the Bhadrapada Month as per the lunar calendar is observed as Bala Bholani Teras or Kakbali or Trayodasi Shraddha.
Bala Bholani Teras or Kakbali or Trayodasi Shraddha is the thirteenth day of the sacred Mahalaya Paksha. Paksha is a Sanskrit word which means fifteen days. The fifteen days of Bhadrapada are considered sacred by Hindus as they perform the Tarpan for their dead ancestors on these fifteen days. Each day of the Mahalaya Paksha has a significance and so does this thirteenth day.
As the name suggests Bala Bholani Teras, the thirteenth day is the day when shradda is performed for the children who died. As per the ritual of the Shraddha, Pindam (prepared by making balls of rice along with Jeera) is offered after Tarpans are given. This Pindam on the Trayodasi day is offered to the crows and hence known as Kak Bali.
The Trayodashi Shraddha is also performed for those who died during natural disasters and other calamities. There was nothing that these people could have done and hence the name Bholani which means innocence. As the Shradda is performed for Bala i.e children and the Bholani , as per above and the day is thirteenth the Trayodashi Shraddha is known as Bala Bholani Teras.
As the Trayodashi falls on the Magha Nakshatra this Bala Bholani Teras or Kakbali or Trayodasi Shraddha is also known as Magha Shraddha.
