Vrat & observance dates · India · IST
Amavasya 2026
All Amavasya (new moon) dates this year — observed for pitru tarpan, shraddha and remedies.
In short
There are 3 Amavasya dates in 2026 (India, IST). The full list is below — tap any date for that day's panchangam.
Amavasya · 2026
June 2026
July 2026
August 2026
Computed from the panchang (India, IST · Hyderabad reference). A regional calendar may occasionally differ by a day when a tithi spans or skips a sunrise.
What is Amavasya?
All Amavasya (new moon) dates this year — observed for pitru tarpan, shraddha and remedies.
Amavasya is the new-moon day — the last tithi of the waning (Krishna) fortnight, about once a lunar month. It is an important day for pitru tarpan and shraddha (offerings to ancestors), and for certain remedies and vratas.
Several Amavasyas carry special significance — Mauni Amavasya, Somvati Amavasya (on a Monday), and the Mahalaya/Pitru Paksha Amavasya. New beginnings and auspicious ceremonies are generally avoided on Amavasya.
The dates below are computed from the panchang for India (IST). Tap any date for that day's full panchangam.
How to observe Amavasya
- 1 On the Amavasya day, wake early, bathe and take a sankalp (vow) to observe the vrat.
- 2 Keep the fast through the day as per the observance — avoiding grains where prescribed.
- 3 Offer puja and prayers to the presiding deity, with japa and reading of the vrat katha.
- 4 Break the fast (parana) at the prescribed time — see that day's panchangam for the exact window.
How this is calculated
Timings are computed with the Drik (observational) method using the Lahiri (Chitra-paksha) ayanamsha, for India (IST) with Hyderabad as the reference location. Sunrise- and sunset-based windows — Rahu Kalam, Choghadiya and the muhurtas — are derived from the day's actual sunrise and sunset, so they shift a few minutes by city.
FAQ
What is done on Amavasya?
Amavasya is chiefly a day for ancestor rites — pitru tarpan and shraddha (offering water and food to departed ancestors) — along with certain remedies, meditation and vratas. Charity and holy bathing are also common.
Is Amavasya auspicious or inauspicious?
The new moon is not used to begin auspicious ceremonies such as weddings or griha pravesh, but it is considered spiritually powerful for ancestor worship, meditation and specific sadhanas.
What is Somvati Amavasya?
An Amavasya that falls on a Monday (Somvar). It is considered especially auspicious for married women and for ancestor rites, and is observed with fasting and Peepal-tree worship.
What is Mauni Amavasya?
The Amavasya in the month of Magha (Jan–Feb), observed in silence (mauna) with a holy dip — one of the most important bathing days of the Magha Mela / Kumbh.
What is Mahalaya Amavasya?
The Amavasya that ends Pitru Paksha (the fortnight of ancestors), regarded as the most important day of the year for shraddha and tarpan for all ancestors.
How many Amavasyas are there in a year?
Usually 12 — one new moon per lunar month; a year with an extra (adhika) month has 13.
What should we avoid on Amavasya?
Starting new ventures, weddings and housewarmings are generally avoided. Some traditions also advise against travel after dark and non-vegetarian food on this day.
Can we do puja on Amavasya?
Yes — ancestor puja and tarpan are central, and Lakshmi puja (on Diwali Amavasya), Kali and Shani worship are also performed on specific Amavasyas.
