Amavasya
Also called New Moon, Amavasai, Darsha
When
Thursday, 10 September 2026 in 14 days
New Delhi ยท change location
at sunrise. This observance is governed by aparahna, not by the sunrise tithi โ which is why the tithi named here is often not the one the festival is named for.
See the complete panchang for that day โ
Governed by
Why this date?
The new moon tithi. For pitru rites the governing period is APARAHNA โ the afternoon โ not sunrise, which is why the day chosen for tarpana is sometimes not the day Amavasya begins.
- Computed by the panchanga engine for your location
- Follows a written selection rule, not a copied list
- The governing period is stated, and the rule is applied to it
- The written guide has not yet been reviewed by a named scholar
Dates come from the calculation engine and are independent of the written guide. How we calculate โ
Dates in the coming years
- Thursday, 10 September 2026 in 14 days
- Saturday, 10 October 2026 in 44 days
- Sunday, 8 November 2026 in 73 days
- Tuesday, 8 December 2026 in 103 days
- Thursday, 7 January 2027 in 133 days
- Saturday, 6 February 2027 in 163 days
- Monday, 8 March 2027 in 193 days
- Tuesday, 6 April 2027 in 222 days
Published to 2030. Later years appear as the dataset is extended and validated.
What In short
The monthly new moon: the day for ancestral offerings โ tarpana and where kept, shraddha. Mahalaya Amavasya in Ashvina is the year's principal one.
- Deity: The pitrs (ancestors)
- Recurs: monthly
Why The reason behind it
Amavasya is the pitrs' tithi as Purnima is the devas'. The offering is water and sesame, given facing south, and it is one of the few household rites that has continued essentially unchanged for a very long time.
Traditional basis
Dharmashastra literature on shraddha โ Establishes Amavasya as the pitru tithi and the aparahna as the governing period.
Garuda Purana โ The most-cited text on the ancestral rites and their sequence.
How At home, step by step
- Bathe in the morning; where a river or tank is reachable, there.
- In the aparahna, offer tarpana: water with black sesame, facing south, with the sacred thread over the right shoulder if you wear one.
- Set aside a portion of food for the pitrs where the household keeps that custom.
- Feed someone โ a brahmin, a guest, or anyone in need. The offering is not complete as a private act.
What you'll need
- Black sesame seeds
- Darbha grass, if the household keeps it
- Water and a vessel for tarpana
- Cooked food for the offering and for giving
Fasting and breaking the fast
A fast is kept by some, particularly on Mahalaya and Somvati Amavasya. It is not required for the tarpana.
Fasting guidance here describes traditional practice. It is not medical advice โ if you are pregnant, diabetic, on medication or unwell, ask a doctor about your own circumstances.
Personal In your region
- North India yours
Somvati Amavasya, when it falls on a Monday, is kept for the peepal circumambulation. - Tamil Nadu (Tamil)
Amavasai tarpanam is widely kept monthly; Aadi and Thai Amavasai draw the largest numbers to the coast. - Kerala (Malayalam)
Karkidaka Vavu Bali โ the Karkidaka Amavasya rite is among the most attended in Kerala.
For children
On the night with no moon, we give water to the people in our family who came before us, and we make sure someone gets fed.
Common questions
- Can I perform tarpana if I do not know the rites?
- The minimum form โ water with black sesame, offered facing south with the ancestors in mind, and food given to someone โ is within any householder's reach. The elaborate form needs guidance; the minimum does not.
This guide has not yet been reviewed by a named scholar or practising priest. The dates and times on this page come from the calculation engine and are independent of it; the explanatory text is editorial and may not reflect your family's practice. Tell us if something is wrong.