Skip to content
School of Vedic Sciences, FORE

Festivals and vrats · अमावस्या (सभी)

Amavasya (all)

The new moon of each month, the thirtieth tithi, set aside for the ancestors.

WhatsApp

2006

  • Sunday, 29 January 2006 · Mauni Amavasya
  • Monday, 27 February 2006 · Magha Amavasya (Somvati)
  • Wednesday, 29 March 2006 · Phalguna Amavasya
  • Thursday, 27 April 2006 · Chaitra Amavasya
  • Saturday, 27 May 2006 · Vat Savitri Amavasya (Shani)
  • Sunday, 25 June 2006 · Jyeshtha Amavasya
  • Tuesday, 25 July 2006 · Hariyali Amavasya (Bhaumvati)
  • Wednesday, 23 August 2006 · Shravana Amavasya
  • Friday, 22 September 2006 · Mahalaya / Sarvapitri Amavasya
  • Sunday, 22 October 2006 · Diwali (Lakshmi Puja) Amavasya
  • Monday, 20 November 2006 · Kartika Amavasya (Somvati)
  • Wednesday, 20 December 2006 · Margashirsha Amavasya

2007

  • Friday, 19 January 2007 · Mauni Amavasya
  • Saturday, 17 February 2007 · Magha Amavasya (Shani)
  • Monday, 19 March 2007 · Phalguna Amavasya (Somvati)
  • Tuesday, 17 April 2007 · Chaitra Amavasya (Bhaumvati)
  • Wednesday, 16 May 2007 · Vat Savitri Amavasya
  • Friday, 15 June 2007 · Adhika Jyeshtha Amavasya
  • Saturday, 14 July 2007 · Jyeshtha Amavasya (Shani)
  • Sunday, 12 August 2007 · Hariyali Amavasya
  • Tuesday, 11 September 2007 · Shravana Amavasya (Bhaumvati)
  • Thursday, 11 October 2007 · Mahalaya / Sarvapitri Amavasya
  • Friday, 9 November 2007 · Diwali (Lakshmi Puja) Amavasya
  • Sunday, 9 December 2007 · Kartika Amavasya

How the date is fixed

Every new-moon day, taken as the day on which Amavasya is running at sunrise. One that falls on a Monday is called Somvati, on a Tuesday Bhaumvati, and on a Saturday Shani Amavasya. Amavasya ends the dark half, so both month names are given.

About

Amavasya is the tithi in which the Moon's longitude returns to the Sun's, closing the dark half and, in amanta reckoning, the month itself. It is the tithi of the pitris, and tarpana for ancestors is its regular observance; the aparahna (afternoon) is the governing period for shraddha, so the day whose afternoon carries Amavasya is chosen. Several named Amavasyas stand out: Sarva Pitru Amavasya ending Pitru Paksha, Diwali on Ashwina Amavasya, Mauni Amavasya in Pausha, and any Amavasya on a Monday (Somvati) or Saturday (Shani). Solar eclipses can only occur on Amavasya, which is why eclipse rules are tied to it.

How it is observed

Tarpana for ancestors in the afternoon, river bathing on Somvati and Mauni Amavasya, and lamps at dusk.

More from the Panchang