Introduction

Celestial bodies have always been of great importance to many religions across the globe. Hinduism is no different in this aspect. For centuries, the astrological forecast and a few rituals in Hinduism have been based on the positioning of these celestial bodies and their collective influence on this world. Moon is one such celestial body that is important to Hinduism. There are beliefs and rituals centered around the waning and waxing qualities (Amavasya and Purnima days) of the moon. When the moon appears in its full glory, it is called Purnima and Amavasya when the moon is not fully visible. This is called the lunar cycle, which repeats itself every month.      

Purnima and Amavasya Days

Purnima is a word derived from Sanskrit, which translates to a full moon. It is a tithi when the moon is at its full glory. It is a time of festivities and celebrations. A lot of Hindu festivals are around Purnima. Similarly, the word Amavasya comes from Sanskrit and refers to the lunar phase of a new moon. The Hindu calendar has 30 such lunar phases, and these phases are called tithis. It is believed that the evil forces are at their peak during Amavasya, and hence most of the Amavasyas are considered inauspicious except Karthika Amavasya, which occurs during Diwali. However, Amavasya is deemed to be a very auspicious time to remember and offer prayers to the forefathers.

Do’s and Don’ts on Amavasya and Purnima Days

What not to do on Amavasya Day?

Days with religious significance have their own set of rules. Amavasya is one of the many such days which holds a significant place in Hinduism. It is a day dedicated to ‘pitru‘. As per the customs and culture, a few activities are considered inauspicious during Amavasya.

Of the many things, the first is a broom. One is advised not to purchase a broom on the day of Amavasya. It is believed that purchasing a broom will upset Goddess Laxmi. This will stop the flow of wealth in the house. It also invites negative energy in the house that eventually disturbs the health and wealth of the family. The second is intoxication. One should refrain from buying or having alcohol on the day of Amavasya. Consuming alcohol will invite negative energy, which can haunt the person and the family for a long time. Other activities to avoid includes eating non-vegetarian, purchasing pooja items, purchasing food grains & flours, plucking basil (tulsi) leaves, marriages, and other auspicious ceremonies. 

What should we do on Amavasya?

Hindu customary rituals also speak of the activities that one can perform on the day of Amavasya to get rid of negative energies and hardships. Since it is a day dedicated to ‘pitru’, one should therefore perform Shradh to offer prayers to the dead family members and take their blessings. Secondly, planting trees and plants is also considered an auspicious act. Next is, making generous donations to someone in need. This attracts positive energy. Also, it is believed that feeding five different fruits to cows and wheat flour balls to fish will usher good karma and prosperity in life. Meanwhile, some people also observe fasting on Amavasya to please the ancestors and gain good fortune. 

Which god to worship on Amavasya?

Amavasya is considered a night when the evil spirits are the strongest. For this reason, no auspicious activity is performed on Amavasya. The belief is that if we start something new on this day, we might never get success in it. Goddess Kali and Lord Shiva are worshiped on this day to destroy the evil energies.

                            Amavasya Dates 2023 with Timings

Tithi	Start & End Time
Amavasya tithi in January, 2023 (Mauni Amavasya, Shani Amavasya)	Jan 21, 6:18 am – Jan 22, 2:23 am
Amavasya tithi in February 2023 (Somvati Amavasya)	Feb 19, 4:18 pm – Feb 20, 12:35 pm
Amavasya tithi in March, 2023 (Bhaumvati Amavasya)	Mar 21, 1:47 am – Mar 21, 10:53 pm
Amavasya tithi in April, 2023	Apr 19, 11:24 am – Apr 20, 9:42 am
Amavasya tithi in May, 2023	May 18, 9:43 pm – May 19, 9:23 pm
Amavasya tithi in June, 2023	Jun 17, 9:12 am – Jun 18, 10:07 am
Amavasya tithi in July, 2023 (Hariyali Amavasya, Somvati Amavasya)	Jul 16, 10:08 pm – Jul 18, 12:01 am
Amavasya tithi in August, 2023	Aug 15, 12:43 pm – Aug 16, 3:08 pm
Amavasya tithi in September, 2023	Sep 14, 4:49 am – Sep 15, 7:09 am
Amavasya tithi in October, 2023 (Mahalaya Amavasya, Shani Amavasya)	Oct 13, 9:51 pm – Oct 14, 11:25 pm
Amavasya tithi in November, 2023 (Somvati Amavasya)	Nov 12, 2:45 pm – Nov 13, 2:57 pm
Amavasya tithi in December, 2023 (Bhaumvati Amavasya)	Dec 12, 6:24 am – Dec 13, 5:02 am

Amavasya Dates 2022 with Timings

You can find the details of Amavasya tithis in the table given below:

Date	Day	Amavasya Type	Begin	End	Hindu Month/ Paksha
02-01-2022	Sunday	Darsha Amavasya Pausha Amavasya	03:41 AM, Jan 02	12:02 AM, Jan 03	Pausha, Krishna Amavasya
31-01-2022	Monday	Darsha Amavasya	02:18 PM, Jan 31	11:15 AM, Feb 01	Magha, Krishna Amavasya
01-02-2022	Tuesday	Magha Amavasya	02:18 PM, Jan 31	11:15 AM, Feb 01	Magha, Krishna Amavasya
02-03-2022	Wednesday	Darsha Amavasya Phalguna Amavasya	01:00 AM, Mar 02	11:04 PM, Mar 02	Phalguna, Krishna Amavasya
31-03-2022	Thursday	Darsha Amavasya	12:22 PM, Mar 31	11:53 AM, Apr 01	Chaitra, Krishna Amavasya
01-04-2022	Friday	Chaitra Amavasya	12:22 PM, Mar 31	11:53 AM, Apr 01	Chaitra, Krishna Amavasya
30-04-2022	Saturday	Darsha Amavasya Vaishakha Amavasya	12:57 AM, Apr 30	01:57 AM, May 01	Vaishakha, Krishna Amavasya
30-05-2022	Monday	Darsha Amavasya Jyeshtha Amavasya	02:54 PM, May 29	04:59 PM, May 30	Jyeshtha, Krishna Amavasya
28-06-2022	Tuesday	Darsha Amavasya Ashadha Amavasya	05:52 AM, Jun 28	08:21 AM, Jun 29	Ashadha, Krishna Amavasya
28-07-2022	Thursday	Darsha Amavasya Shravana Amavasya	09:11 PM, Jul 27	11:24 PM, Jul 28	Shravana, Krishna Amavasya
26-08-2022	Friday	Darsha Amavasya	12:23 PM, Aug 26	01:46 PM, Aug 27	Bhadrapada, Krishna Amavasya
27-08-2022	Saturday	Bhadrapada Amavasya	12:23 PM, Aug 26	01:46 PM, Aug 27	Bhadrapada, Krishna Amavasya
25-09-2022	Sunday	Darsha Amavasya Ashwina Amavasya	03:12 AM, Sep 25	03:23 AM, Sep 26	Ashwina, Krishna Amavasya
25-10-2022	Tuesday	Darsha Amavasya Kartika Amavasya	05:27 PM, Oct 24	04:18 PM, Oct 25	Kartika, Krishna Amavasya
23-11-2022	Wednesday	Darsha Amavasya Margashirsha Amavasya	06:53 AM, Nov 23	04:26 AM, Nov 24	Margashirsha, Krishna Amavasya
23-12-2022	Friday	Darsha Amavasya Pausha Amavasya	07:13 PM, Dec 22	03:46 PM, Dec 23	Pausha, Krishna Amavasya

Amavasya Dates 2021 with Timings

Month	Amavasya Start Date	Amavasya End Date	Hindu Masa	Timings
January	12-01-2021	13-01-2021	Pausha	Jan 12-12:22 PM- Jan 13 – 10:29 AM
February	11-02-2021	12-02-2021	Magha	Feb 11 – 01:08 AM – Feb 12 – 12:35 AM
March	12-03-2021	12-03-2021	Phalguna	Mar 12 -03:02 PM- Mar 03:50 PM
April	11-04-2021	12-04-2021	Chaitra	Apr 11 -06:03 AM- Apr 12- 08:00 AM
May	10-05-2021	12-05-2021	Vaishakha	May 10 –  09:55 PM – May 12 -12:29 AM
June	09-06-2021	10-06-2021	Jyeshtha	Jun 9 -01:57 PM – Jun 10 – 04:22 PM
July	09-07-2021	10-07-2021	Ashadha	Jul 9 – 05:16 AM – Jul 10 – 06:46 AM
August	07-08-2021	08-08-2021	Shravana	Aug 07 -07:11 PM – Aug 08 – 07:19 PM
September	06-09-2021	07-09-2021	Bhadrapada	Sep 06 -07:38 AM – Sep 07 – 06:21 AM
October	05-10-2021	06-10-2021	Ashwina	Oct 05 – 07:04 PM – Oct 06 – 04:34 PM
November	04-11-2021	05-11-2021	Kartika	Nov 04 – 06:03 AM – Nov 05 – 02:44 AM
December	03-12-2021	04-12-2021	Margashirsha	Dec 14 – 04:55 PM – Dec 14 – 01:12 PM

What to do and not to do on Purnima Day?

Purnima holds a notable place in Hinduism. Astrological and religious viewpoints consider it to be an auspicious day. It is a day of birth, rebirth, creation, and manifestation. Keeping a fast on this day is an auspicious act. It is called Purnima Vrat. Meanwhile, individuals who keep Purnima Vrat takes a bath before sunrise. Thereafter they offer prayers to Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu in the morning and Chandra Dev in the evening. The vrat is observed to receive blessings from the deities and bring peace and prosperity to one’s life and family.

Our puranas state that chanting Mahamrityunjaya and Gayatri mantra on Purnima day is important to receive the blessings of god. Also, it is advisable not to consume any non-vegetarian food on the day of Purnima. Furthermore, both Amavasya and Purnima days have this prohibition of non-vegeterian in common. 

Pournami Dates 2022 with Timings

You can find the details of Amavasya tithis in the table given below:

Date	Day	Pournima Type/Vrat	Begin	End	Hindu Month/ Paksha
17-01-2022	Monday	Pausha Purnima Vrat Pausha Purnima	03:18 AM, Jan 17	05:17 AM, Jan 18	Pausha, Shukla Purnima
16-02-2022	Wednesday	Magha Purnima Vrat Magha Purnima	09:42 PM, Feb 15	10:25 PM, Feb 16	Magha, Shukla Purnima
17-03-2022	Thursday	Phalguna Purnima Vrat	01:29 PM, Mar 17	12:47 PM, Mar 18	Phalguna, Shukla Purnima
18-03-2022	Friday	Phalguna Purnima	01:29 PM, Mar 17	12:47 PM, Mar 18	Phalguna, Shukla Purnima
16-04-2022	Saturday	Chaitra Purnima Vrat Chaitra Purnima	02:25 AM, Apr 16	12:24 AM, Apr 17	Chaitra, Shukla Purnima
15-05-2022	Sunday	Vaishakha Purnima Vrat	12:45 PM, May 15	09:43 AM, May 16	Vaishakha, Shukla Purnima
16-05-2022	Monday	Vaishakha Purnima	12:45 PM, May 15	09:43 AM, May 16	Vaishakha, Shukla Purnima
14-06-2022	Tuesday	Jyeshtha Purnima Vrat Jyeshtha Purnima	09:02 PM, Jun 13	05:21 PM, Jun 14	Jyeshtha, Shukla Purnima
13-07-2022	Wednesday	Ashadha Purnima Vrat Ashadha Purnima	04:00 AM, Jul 13	12:06 AM, Jul 14	Ashadha, Shukla Purnima
11-08-2022	Thursday	Shravana Purnima Vrat	10:38 AM, Aug 11	07:05 AM, Aug 12	Shravana, Shukla Purnima
12-08-2022	Friday	Shravana Purnima	10:38 AM, Aug 11	07:05 AM, Aug 12	Shravana, Shukla Purnima
10-09-2022	Saturday	Bhadrapada Purnima Vrat Bhadrapada Purnima	06:07 PM, Sep 09	03:28 PM, Sep 10	Bhadrapada, Shukla Purnima
09-10-2022	Sunday	Ashwina Purnima Vrat Ashwina Purnima	03:41 AM, Oct 09	02:24 AM, Oct 10	Ashwina, Shukla Purnima
8-11-2022	Tuesday	Kartika Purnima Vrat Kartika Purnima	04:15 PM, Nov 07	04:31 PM, Nov 08	Kartika, Shukla Purnima
07-12-2022	Wednesday	Margashirsha Purnima Vrat	08:01 AM, Dec 07	09:37 AM, Dec 08	Margashirsha, Shukla Purnima
08-12-2022	Thursday	Margashirsha Purnima	08:01 AM, Dec 07	09:37 AM, Dec 08	Margashirsha, Shukla Purnima

Pournami Dates 2021 with Timings

Month	Purnima Start Date	Pournami End Date	Hindu Masa	Timings
January	28-01-2021	29-01-2021	Pausha	Jan 28 – 01:17 AM – Jan 29 -12:45 AM
February	26-02-2021	27-02-2021	Magha	Feb 26 -03:49 PM- Feb 27 – 01:46 PM
March	28-03-2021	29-03-2021	Phalguna	Mar 28 – 03:27 AM – Mar 29 -12:17 AM
April	26-04-2021	27-04-2021	Chaitra	Apr 26 – 12:44 PM – Apr 27 – 09:01 AM
May	25-05-2021	26-05-2020	Vaishakha	May 25 – 08:29 PM – May 26 – 04:43 PM
June	24-06-2021	25-06-2020	Jyeshtha	Jun 24 – 03:32 AM – Jun 25 – 12:09 AM
July	23-07-2021	24-07-2020	Ashadha	Jul 23 – 10:43 AM – Jul 24 – 08:06 AM
August	21-08-2021	22-08-2020	Shravana	Aug 21 – 07:00 PM – Aug 22 05:31 PM
September	20-09-2021	21-09-2020	Bhadrapada	Sep 20 – 05:28 AM- Sep 21 – 05:24 AM
October	19-10-2021	20-10-2020	Ashwina	Oct 19 – 07:03 PM – Oct 20 – 08:26 PM
November	18-11-2021	19-11-2020	Kartika	Nov 18 – 12:00 PM – Nov 19 – 02:26 PM
December	18-12-2021	19-12-2020	Margashirsha	Dec 18 – 07:24 AM – Dec 19 – 10:05 AM

PNP team hopes that this piece of content on convincingly explains the concept of Amavasya and Purnima days in the most simple way possible.