What Is Amavasya? Quick Answer
Amavasya is the new moon day — the 30th tithi, the last of Krishna Paksha, when the sun and moon are at the same longitude and the moon is not visible. It occurs about every 29.5 days. Amavasya is dedicated to the ancestors (pitrs): tarpan, shraddha, charity, holy dips and lighting a lamp under a peepal tree are recommended, while new beginnings like weddings, griha pravesh and major purchases are traditionally avoided. Special Amavasyas include Somvati (Monday), Shani (Saturday), Mauni (Magha), Sarva Pitru (end of Pitru Paksha) and Diwali (Kartik).
Amavasya Dates 2027 (New Delhi)
| Date | Day | Amavasya |
|---|---|---|
| 7 Jan | Thu | Pausha |
| 6 Feb | Sat | Magha (Mauni) — Shani Amavasya, annular solar eclipse |
| 7–8 Mar | Sun–Mon | Phalguna — Somvati Amavasya on 8 Mar |
| 6 Apr | Tue | Chaitra (Bhaumvati) |
| 6 May | Thu | Vaishakha |
| 4 Jun | Fri | Jyeshtha — Vat Savitri, Shani Jayanti |
| 3–4 Jul | Sat–Sun | Ashadha |
| 2 Aug | Mon | Shravana — Somvati Amavasya, total solar eclipse |
| 31 Aug | Tue | Bhadrapada (Bhaumvati) |
| 29–30 Sep | Wed–Thu | Ashwina — Sarva Pitru Amavasya on 29 Sep |
| 29 Oct | Fri | Kartika — Diwali |
| 27–28 Nov | Sat–Sun | Margashirsha |
| 27 Dec | Mon | Pausha — Somvati Amavasya |
Where two dates are shown, the first is Darsha Amavasya (for evening rites) and the second is the snan-daan day.
Do's on Amavasya
- •Pitru tarpan with water, black sesame and kusha
- •Holy dip in a river, or bath with Gangajal
- •Charity: food, clothes, black sesame, jaggery
- •Feed cows, crows, dogs and ants
- •Lamp under a peepal tree in the evening
- •Worship Shiva, Hanuman or Shani; chant mantras
Don'ts on Amavasya
- •Starting weddings, griha pravesh, new business, big purchases
- •Meat, alcohol and tamasic food
- •Quarrels, insulting elders
- •Cutting hair and nails (traditional belief)
- •Going to lonely places at night (folk belief)
Simple Pitru Tarpan on Amavasya
Face south after bathing, take water with black sesame, a little milk and kusha grass, and pour it slowly over the base of the right thumb while remembering your ancestors (or saying "Samasta Pitribhyo Namah"). Offer water to a peepal tree, light a mustard-oil lamp facing south in the evening, and feed a cow, a dog, crows and someone in need.
New beginnings such as weddings or griha pravesh are usually avoided on Amavasya because the Moon — the significator of the mind — is not visible. Diwali is the famous exception, when Lakshmi Puja and new account books begin on Kartik Amavasya.
Summary
Amavasya is the new-moon tithi dedicated to ancestors. Offer tarpan, donate and light lamps; avoid new beginnings. Somvati, Shani, Mauni and Sarva Pitru Amavasya are especially important. See Purnima for the full-moon counterpart.
