Word

Amavasya

Sanskrit

अमावास्या

IAST

amāvāsyā

In General

The night of dark moon (no moon) lunar phase and the day succeeding it (newmoon day). Most of the Hindu communities prefer this day for Pitrutarpana, the ceremonies for the dead. Amavasya is normally considered as inauspicious however there is no hard and fast rule like those practiced by other religions. Depavali (diwali) and some other festivals fall on amavasya day.

During its various positions around the earth, Moon is exposed to varying amount of sun rays as the earth occurs in between. Therefore moon appears to grow and reduce in its size. When the earth completely blocks the moon from the sun, it is Amavasya and when the moon is completely exposed to the sun, it is Purnima.