Amavasya 2026 Dates: Next Amavasya and Full List

What Amavasya is

On Amavasya the Moon is in line with the Sun and its lit side faces away from the Earth. It ends the waning half of the month, and some Amavasyas are known for their observances, such as Mahalaya (Sarva Pitru) Amavasya at the end of Pitru Paksha and the New Moon of Diwali.

Why is this Amavasya named after the previous month?

Purnimanta months (followed in most of North India) end on Purnima; Amanta months (Maharashtra, Gujarat and South India) end on Amavasya. So an Amavasya falls in the middle of a Purnimanta month but at the end of an Amanta month.

By convention, an Amavasya takes the name of the Amanta month it concludes, so both regional calendars use the same name for the same New Moon. For example, the New Moon in the dark fortnight that North Indians already call Ashwin is Bhadrapada Amavasya, and Diwali's New Moon is Ashwina Amavasya.

How Amavasya is observed

Traditionally people bathe early, offer water with sesame seeds (til) to the ancestors (tarpan), and give food to Brahmins, cows, crows and those in need. Many light a lamp under a peepal tree in the evening. Some keep a fast or eat one simple meal. Amavasya is generally not chosen for starting new ventures, weddings or travel.

On Somvati Amavasya, married women traditionally worship the peepal tree and walk around it for their family's wellbeing; on Shani Amavasya, many people offer mustard oil and pray to Shani.

Simple rules many families follow

Fasting is optional. Children, older people, anyone pregnant or breastfeeding, and anyone with diabetes, low blood pressure or another health condition should eat normally or keep a light fruit-and-milk (phalahar) fast, and check with a doctor first. Traditionally the intention and the prayer matter more than going without food.

• Remember the ancestors with a simple offering of water, til and a prayer, even if you don't do a full shraddha.
• Give food or something useful to someone in need.
• Keep the day simple and sattvik; non-vegetarian food and alcohol are traditionally avoided.

Why the date can differ in your city

A vrat's day is set by when its tithi is running at sunrise, sunset or moonrise, and those come at different clock times in different places. The dates above are for New Delhi. Across India they are almost always the same; abroad, especially in the Americas, a vrat can fall a day earlier because the tithi changes before local sunrise there. Your city's Panchang shows the local tithi times, sunrise, sunset and moonrise, and its month calendar shows the vrats by your own sunrise.

• New Delhi, Delhi PanchangMonth calendar
• Mumbai, Maharashtra PanchangMonth calendar
• Kolkata, West Bengal PanchangMonth calendar
• Chennai, Tamil Nadu PanchangMonth calendar
• Bengaluru, Karnataka PanchangMonth calendar
• London, United Kingdom PanchangMonth calendar
• New York City, United States PanchangMonth calendar
• Toronto, Canada PanchangMonth calendar
• Dubai, UAE PanchangMonth calendar
• Singapore, Singapore PanchangMonth calendar

Another city? Panchang by city covers over 400 places.