Somavati Amavasya is a Hindu festival that is celebrated on the new moon day or no moon day, which falls on Monday. Amavasya is the day of the conjunction of the sun and the moon, the fifteenth day of the dark half of a lunar month. Although, Amavasya takes place every month but it is considered to be auspicious when it falls on a Monday and it is rare, which falls once a year.
Significance of Somavati Amavasya
Somvati Amavasya is an auspicious day and it finds its mention in the great Indian epic Mahabharat. The significance of Somvati Amavasya was elucidated by Bhisma to Yudhishtra. After the Kurukshetra war, Yudhistira was fretful with the Kuru pandava dynasty and asked Bhishma to advice something to invigorate the dynasty for his coming generations. Bhishma then suggested Dharmaraj Yudhistira to observe Somvati Amavasya Vrata. He also explained him the virtues of this vrata as whoever observes the Amavasya Somvara Vrata would have a long life as well as righteous children. Amavasya, or Amavasi, is the name of new moon night in Hindu religion and it is the first night of the first quarter of the lunar month. As the moon is invisible on this day, Amavasya is also referred as no moon night. Amavasya holds great significance in Hinduism and many Hindus choose this day to make offering (tharpanam) to the Pitar. Emblematically, the period from Amavasya to Purnima (full moon) is believed to be the continuing initiation and transcendence into the completeness, from darkness to the continuing realization of the Supreme Soul.
Rituals related to Somvati Amavasya
On this occasion, married women take dip in the holy rivers, especially River Ganga for a happy family life as well as for the long life of their husbands. On this day, they worship the banyan tree and Somavara Amavasya Vrata (fasting) is observed for a long and happy married life. Many stanch Hindus also fast the whole day long and some people only have a single meal on the auspicious day of Somavati Amavashya. On this day scores of people take a plunge in Ganga at Haridwar, Triveni Sangam and other places. It is believed that whoever takes a plunge in the major rivers on this day would be flourishing, free of diseases and would be free from misery and unhappiness. It is also believed that by bathing in the holy rivers the soul of ancestors will rest in peace.
Significance of Somavati Amavasya
Somvati Amavasya is an auspicious day and it finds its mention in the great Indian epic Mahabharat. The significance of Somvati Amavasya was elucidated by Bhisma to Yudhishtra. After the Kurukshetra war, Yudhistira was fretful with the Kuru pandava dynasty and asked Bhishma to advice something to invigorate the dynasty for his coming generations. Bhishma then suggested Dharmaraj Yudhistira to observe Somvati Amavasya Vrata. He also explained him the virtues of this vrata as whoever observes the Amavasya Somvara Vrata would have a long life as well as righteous children. Amavasya, or Amavasi, is the name of new moon night in Hindu religion and it is the first night of the first quarter of the lunar month. As the moon is invisible on this day, Amavasya is also referred as no moon night. Amavasya holds great significance in Hinduism and many Hindus choose this day to make offering (tharpanam) to the Pitar. Emblematically, the period from Amavasya to Purnima (full moon) is believed to be the continuing initiation and transcendence into the completeness, from darkness to the continuing realization of the Supreme Soul.
Rituals related to Somvati Amavasya
On this occasion, married women take dip in the holy rivers, especially River Ganga for a happy family life as well as for the long life of their husbands. On this day, they worship the banyan tree and Somavara Amavasya Vrata (fasting) is observed for a long and happy married life. Many stanch Hindus also fast the whole day long and some people only have a single meal on the auspicious day of Somavati Amavashya. On this day scores of people take a plunge in Ganga at Haridwar, Triveni Sangam and other places. It is believed that whoever takes a plunge in the major rivers on this day would be flourishing, free of diseases and would be free from misery and unhappiness. It is also believed that by bathing in the holy rivers the soul of ancestors will rest in peace.