Amavasya — ancestors' day guide

📍 Calculated for Chennai, Tamil Nadu · India Standard Time. AstroG calculates location-sensitive timings using your selected location and local time.

Traditional guidance — follow your family or temple custom.

New-moon observance: tarpanam, prayer and charity for the ancestors, with your local timing.

Why observed

Meaning

Amavasya (Amavasai) is the new-moon day, the last tithi of the waning fortnight, when the Moon is not visible. It is traditionally the day for remembering and honouring one's ancestors (pitrus) through tarpanam, prayer and charity.

Traditional background

Scriptures describe the ancestors being especially close on Amavasya. Thai Amavasai, Aadi Amavasai and Mahalaya Amavasai (at the end of Pitru Paksha) are the most important in the Tamil tradition; Mauni Amavasya and Sarva Pitru Amavasya are widely observed in North India.

Purpose

Families observe Amavasya to express gratitude to ancestors, for peace in the family, and for spiritual cleansing. It is a day of remembrance and giving rather than celebration.

Who traditionally observes it

Traditionally, tarpanam is performed by those whose father (or parents) has passed away, following family custom. Anyone may pray, give charity, and light a lamp for the ancestors.

When it is observed — and your local timing

Amavasya is the day on which the new-moon tithi prevails as per local rules; tarpanam is usually done in the morning to midday. AstroG shows the local date, sunrise and the tithi end time for your location.

Preparation

Keep black sesame (ellu), water, darbha grass if available, and a simple meal plan. Many families avoid celebrations and new beginnings on this day.

Materials

Black sesame seeds, water in a vessel, darbha grass or a clean cloth, rice balls (pindam) where the family tradition includes them, flowers, lamp, and a photo of the ancestors.

STEP 1 — Preparation

What to do: Bathe early in the morning.

Why: Purity before offering to the ancestors.

STEP 2 — Clean the area

What to do: Clean a quiet place for the tarpanam, facing south as per tradition.

STEP 3 — Sankalpam

What to do: State your intention to offer tarpanam for your ancestors, with their names and gotra as the family knows them.

Practical alternative: Where names are not known, pray for all ancestors of the family.

STEP 4 — Prepare the materials

What to do: Mix sesame with water and keep darbha ready.

STEP 5 — Keep the day simple

What to do: Many families eat one simple meal after the tarpanam.

Practical alternative: A light, vegetarian meal is sufficient.

STEP 6 — Tarpanam

What to do: Offer sesame water with prayer, as taught in your family, or with the help of a priest.

Why: Tarpanam is the traditional offering to the ancestors.

STEP 7 — Mantra and prayer

What to do: Chant the prayers taught in your family or a simple prayer for the ancestors' peace.

STEP 8 — Charity

What to do: Give food to those in need, feed a cow or crows as per custom, or donate.

Why: Charity in the ancestors' name is central to Amavasya.

STEP 9 — Evening lamp

What to do: Light a lamp at dusk and remember the ancestors.

STEP 10 — Complete the day

What to do: End the day quietly; celebrations and new beginnings are traditionally avoided.

Allowed foods

One simple vegetarian meal after the tarpanam, often including dishes the ancestors liked.

Foods traditionally avoided

Non-vegetarian food, alcohol, and in many homes onion and garlic.

Regional traditions

Tamil tradition: Thai Amavasai, Aadi Amavasai and Mahalaya Amavasai are observed with tarpanam at sacred waters such as Rameswaram, Kanyakumari and river banks.

Telugu tradition: Mahalaya Amavasya and monthly Amavasya tarpanam; Deepavali Amavasya is also observed.

North Indian tradition: Mauni Amavasya (silent observance and holy dip) and Sarva Pitru Amavasya at the end of Pitru Paksha.

Other regions: Customs vary — follow your family and priest.

NRI and local-time guidance

Use your local date and morning hours; tarpanam can be performed at home facing south. Many temples abroad arrange group tarpanam on major Amavasyas. If sesame or darbha is unavailable, sincere prayer and charity are fully meaningful.

Practical tips

If you are working: do the tarpanam before work and give charity later in the day.

If you are travelling: offer water with a prayer wherever you are.

For those who do not perform tarpanam: prayer, a lamp and charity are appropriate.

Common mistakes

Following the Indian date instead of the local one; treating the day as inauspicious for everything — tradition asks for remembrance, not fear.

FAQs

Who should perform tarpanam? — Follow your family custom; a priest can guide.

Can women pray for ancestors? — Yes, prayer, lamp and charity are open to all.

Is Amavasya bad for everything? — New beginnings are usually avoided, but prayer and charity are highly recommended.

Mahalaya Paksha · Pournami · Tarpanam · Pariharam

Fasting rules

One simple meal after the morning tarpanam.

Simple vegetarian food after tarpanam.

Foods to avoid

Non-vegetarian food, alcohol; celebrations and new beginnings.

Black sesame, water, darbha grass, flowers, lamp.

Pooja procedure

Bathe early

Clean the area

Sankalpam

Prepare materials

Keep the day simple

Tarpanam

Mantra and prayer

Charity

Evening lamp

Complete the day

Mantra

Source: Traditional practice; family and temple customs vary.