Amavasya

Amavasya is the new moon — the fifteenth day of the Krishna paksha when the moon is not visible. It is significant across all Hindu traditions as the day most associated with ancestors (pitru) and with practices of remembrance and offering.

Significance

On Amavasya, the veil between the living and the ancestors is considered thinnest. Pitru Tarpana — the offering of water and sesame to ancestors — is traditionally performed on this day. Practices and specific rituals vary significantly by regional tradition, family lineage, and sampradaya.