Amavasya (New Moon Day)

About

Amavasya is the 30th tithi, the day of the new moon, when the moon is not visible. It ends the waning (Krishna) fortnight and begins the waxing one. It comes once every month.

For many families it is a day for remembering ancestors, for charity and for quiet prayer.

Significance and stories

Amavasya has long been regarded as the day when ancestors are especially remembered. Offerings of water, food and prayer are made in their name. For the rituals themselves, please see the guides on ancestor rites on this site.

It is sometimes called inauspicious. In practice, the reason is that new ventures and celebrations are not usually started on this day, because it is a day for inner work. It is not a day when prayer is unwelcome. Many of the most important worship nights fall on or near Amavasya, such as Diwali Lakshmi Puja on the Kartik Amavasya, and the monthly worship of Shiva and the Goddess. Fear of the day is not part of the tradition, and no harm is promised to those who go about life as usual.

How to observe

1. Bathe early, in a river or at home with a prayer to the holy rivers.
2. Light a lamp before your deity and the picture of your ancestors, if you keep one.
3. Make a short offering of water with sesame (tarpan) in memory of the ancestors, if your family does this, following your priest's guidance.
4. Prepare a simple meal and offer a share to the ancestors, then feed a guest, a Brahmin, or someone in need.
5. Give daan (= charity) of food, clothes, or money.
6. Spend some time in japa or quiet reading.

Items you may need

• A lamp, incense and flowers
• Water and black sesame (for tarpan)
• Rice and simple food for the offering
• Items for daan, such as grains, clothes or fruit

Fasting and food

Many people keep a light fast or take a simple sattvic vegetarian meal. Families who offer shraddha prepare a meal without onion or garlic. Traditions vary; follow your family's custom.

People with health conditions, pregnant or nursing women, children and the elderly should follow their doctor's advice and may keep a lighter fast.

Named Amavasyas

• Somvati Amavasya falls on a Monday. It is an auspicious day for Shiva worship, holy bathing and, for women in some families, circumambulating a peepal tree.
• Mauni Amavasya is in the Magha month (Purnimanta). The day is kept in silence (mauna) with holy bathing and charity, and is a major bathing day at Prayagraj.
• Shani Amavasya falls on a Saturday. Many offer mustard oil lamps and visit Shani or Hanuman temples.
• Bhaumvati Amavasya falls on a Tuesday. Hanuman worship is common.
• Sarva Pitru Amavasya closes Pitru Paksha, and is the key day for ancestor rites for all ancestors.
• Diwali Amavasya in Kartik (Purnimanta; Ashwin in the Amanta calendar) is the night of Lakshmi Puja.

Regional customs

In Maharashtra, Gujarat and South India Amavasya is closely linked to ancestor remembrance and temple worship. In Bengal, the Amavasya of Kartik is Kali Puja. In Odisha and Bihar river bathing on Amavasya is common. Traditions vary; follow your family's custom or your priest's guidance.

Celebrating in the USA

Amavasya is easy to observe quietly on a working day. A morning lamp, a short prayer to ancestors, and a donation to a food bank or temple kitchen is enough. Tarpan can be done at home with a small bowl of water and sesame, and the water poured on a plant afterwards. The tithi timing for your city is shown on the site.