Amavasya अमावस्या
Amavasya is the no-moon night that closes the dark fortnight - the day of the ancestors. It is the foremost time for shraddha and tarpan, for inward reflection, and for the propitiation of the Pitris.
What is Amavasya?
Amavasya is the thirtieth tithi (lunar day) - the new moon, when the Moon lies between the Earth and the Sun and is not visible. It falls once in every lunar month and closes the waning fortnight. Presided over by the Pitris (ancestors), it is a night of stillness and inward turning rather than outward celebration.
Ancestral rites and observances
Amavasya is the chief day for honouring the departed through shraddha and tarpan - offerings of water and food that ease the ancestors’ onward path and are said to lift Pitru Dosha. Many take a holy bath at dawn, give in charity, light a lamp for the forebears, and keep the day for meditation. It is traditionally avoided for weddings, housewarming, travel and other auspicious beginnings.
The notable Amavasyas
Some new moons carry a special significance - by season, or by the weekday on which they fall:
| Amavasya | When | Significance |
|---|---|---|
| Mauni Amavasya | Magha (Jan–Feb) | A day of silence (mauna) and holy bathing - the most sacred bathing day of the Magha month. |
| Mahalaya (Sarvapitri) Amavasya | end of Pitru Paksha (Sep–Oct) | The concluding day of the fortnight of ancestors, when shraddha is offered to all forebears. |
| Diwali (Lakshmi Puja) Amavasya | Kartik (Oct–Nov) | The new-moon night of Diwali, when Lakshmi is worshipped for prosperity and the home is lit with lamps. |
| Hariyali Amavasya | Shravana (Jul–Aug) | The 'green' new moon of the monsoon, marked by tree-planting and worship of Shiva. |
| Somvati Amavasya | any Monday new moon | An Amavasya falling on a Monday - especially auspicious for ancestral rites and for married women's vows. |
| Shani (Shanishchari) Amavasya | any Saturday new moon | An Amavasya on a Saturday, observed for the propitiation of Shani (Saturn). |
| Bhaumvati Amavasya | any Tuesday new moon | An Amavasya on a Tuesday, associated with remedies for Mangal (Mars). |
Frequently asked questions
What is Amavasya?
Amavasya is the new-moon tithi - the fifteenth and final day of the dark fortnight (Krishna Paksha), a moonless night when the Sun and Moon share the same longitude. It comes once a lunar month and is presided over by the Pitris, the ancestors.
What is done on Amavasya?
Amavasya is the foremost day for honouring the ancestors through shraddha and tarpan (water offerings), for a holy bath and charity, and for quiet reflection and meditation. It is generally avoided for auspicious new beginnings and travel.
Which are the most important Amavasyas?
Mauni Amavasya (Magha, a day of silent bathing), Mahalaya or Sarvapitri Amavasya (the close of Pitru Paksha), the Diwali Amavasya (Lakshmi Puja), and Hariyali Amavasya (Shravana). An Amavasya on a Monday is Somvati and on a Saturday is Shani Amavasya.
When is the next Amavasya in Mumbai, MH?
The next Amavasya in Mumbai, MH is on 12 August 2026.
Last updated 26 July 2026