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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.

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2021

  • Wednesday, 13 January 2021 · Margashirsha Amavasya
  • Thursday, 11 February 2021 · Mauni Amavasya
  • Saturday, 13 March 2021 · Magha Amavasya (Shani)
  • Monday, 12 April 2021 · Phalguna Amavasya (Somvati)
  • Tuesday, 11 May 2021 · Chaitra Amavasya (Bhaumvati)
  • Thursday, 10 June 2021 · Vat Savitri Amavasya
  • Friday, 9 July 2021 · Jyeshtha Amavasya
  • Sunday, 8 August 2021 · Hariyali Amavasya
  • Tuesday, 7 September 2021 · Shravana Amavasya (Bhaumvati)
  • Wednesday, 6 October 2021 · Mahalaya / Sarvapitri Amavasya
  • Thursday, 4 November 2021 · Diwali (Lakshmi Puja) Amavasya
  • Saturday, 4 December 2021 · Kartika Amavasya (Shani)

2022

  • Sunday, 2 January 2022 · Margashirsha Amavasya
  • Tuesday, 1 February 2022 · Mauni Amavasya (Bhaumvati)
  • Wednesday, 2 March 2022 · Magha Amavasya
  • Friday, 1 April 2022 · Phalguna Amavasya
  • Saturday, 30 April 2022 · Chaitra Amavasya (Shani)
  • Monday, 30 May 2022 · Vat Savitri Amavasya (Somvati)
  • Wednesday, 29 June 2022 · Jyeshtha Amavasya
  • Thursday, 28 July 2022 · Hariyali Amavasya
  • Saturday, 27 August 2022 · Shravana Amavasya (Shani)
  • Sunday, 25 September 2022 · Mahalaya / Sarvapitri Amavasya
  • Tuesday, 25 October 2022 · Diwali (Lakshmi Puja) Amavasya (Bhaumvati)
  • Wednesday, 23 November 2022 · Kartika Amavasya
  • Friday, 23 December 2022 · Margashirsha 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.

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