Ullambana is a key Mahayana Buddhist concept based on the story of 'Maudgalyayana saving his Mother'. The word Ullambana translates into "deliverance from suffering", is traditionally referred as 'seeking salvation for the anguished souls".
Maudgalyayana discovers through his meditative powers that his mother has been reborn in the realms of pain and suffering. When he learns that her spirit is tormented with hunger and starvation, he decides to go to the netherworld to relieve her of her suffering.
Once he goes there, Maudgalyayana finds his mother starving and offers her food, but when she tries to eat it, the food turns to smouldering pieces of charcoal.
Maudgalyayana is distressed and seeks advice and help from his master, the Buddha. Buddha tells him that his mother's past sins are deeply rooted and that he alone will not be able to ease her sufferings. He advises Maudgalyayana to make offerings of five fruits, incense, oil, lamps, candles, beds and bedding to the assembled ten monks of the Order and pray along with them for the liberation of his mother's soul.
The Buddha also tells Maudgalyayana that by making such an offering, not only his mother but his forefathers and kith and kin will also escape suffering and attain eternal bliss.
The day on which Maudgalyayana performed the act of compassionate filial conduct and brought salvation to his forefathers is celebrated as Ullambana.
Ullambana celebration reinforces the concept of filial piety. It signifies the importance of performing "good deeds" to accumulate spiritual merit. Most significant is to share the merit with the departed souls, to help them reborn in good realms and end their suffering.
Ullambana Celebration