2016
- Saturday, 9 January 2016 · Margashirsha Amavasya (Shani)
- Monday, 8 February 2016 · Mauni Amavasya (Somvati)
- Wednesday, 9 March 2016 · Magha Amavasya
- Thursday, 7 April 2016 · Phalguna Amavasya
- Friday, 6 May 2016 · Chaitra Amavasya
- Sunday, 5 June 2016 · Vat Savitri Amavasya
- Monday, 4 July 2016 · Jyeshtha Amavasya (Somvati)
- Tuesday, 2 August 2016 · Hariyali Amavasya (Bhaumvati)
- Thursday, 1 September 2016 · Shravana Amavasya
- Friday, 30 September 2016 · Mahalaya / Sarvapitri Amavasya
- Sunday, 30 October 2016 · Diwali (Lakshmi Puja) Amavasya
- Tuesday, 29 November 2016 · Kartika Amavasya (Bhaumvati)
- Thursday, 29 December 2016 · Margashirsha Amavasya
2017
- Friday, 27 January 2017 · Mauni Amavasya
- Sunday, 26 February 2017 · Magha Amavasya
- Tuesday, 28 March 2017 · Phalguna Amavasya (Bhaumvati)
- Wednesday, 26 April 2017 · Chaitra Amavasya
- Thursday, 25 May 2017 · Vat Savitri Amavasya
- Saturday, 24 June 2017 · Jyeshtha Amavasya (Shani)
- Sunday, 23 July 2017 · Hariyali Amavasya
- Monday, 21 August 2017 · Shravana Amavasya (Somvati)
- Wednesday, 20 September 2017 · Mahalaya / Sarvapitri Amavasya
- Thursday, 19 October 2017 · Diwali (Lakshmi Puja) Amavasya
- Saturday, 18 November 2017 · Kartika Amavasya (Shani)
- Monday, 18 December 2017 · Margashirsha Amavasya (Somvati)
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.