Mumbai: As per Hindu tradition, Ashadha Amavasya holds deep spiritual and religious significance and is popularly known as Darsha Amavasya. This sacred new moon day is believed to be especially powerful for ancestral offerings (pitru tarpan) and rituals aimed at seeking peace for departed souls. The name Darsha comes from the Sanskrit word meaning “to see,” though paradoxically, the moon is entirely invisible on this day—symbolising the unseen presence of our ancestors.

In Hindu beliefs, performing rituals like tarpan and pind daan on Darsha Amavasya is said to bring peace to the souls of ancestors, remove pitru dosha (ancestral afflictions), and bless the family with harmony, prosperity, and spiritual cleansing. Here’s everything you need to know about the date, timing, and step-by-step rituals of Darsha Amavasya 2025.

When is Darsha Amavasya in 2025?

According to the Hindu Panchang, Ashadha Amavasya will begin on the evening of 24 June 2025 at 6:59 PM and conclude on 26 June 2025 at 4:00 PM. Therefore, as per udaya tithi (sunrise-based date), Darsha Amavasya will be observed on Wednesday, 25 June 2025. This day is considered highly auspicious for pitru tarpan and pind daan.

How to perform Pitru Tarpan on Darsha Amavasya

• Start early during Brahma Muhurta (the pre-dawn hours). Take a bath in a holy river if possible. If not, bathe at home by adding a few drops of Gangajal (Ganges water) to your bathing water.
• After bathing, wear clean clothes and prepare for the ritual. Take a copper pot (lota) and fill it with water, black sesame seeds (til), barley (jau), and Gangajal. Keep Kusha grass ready for use during the ritual.
• Either wear a ring made of Kusha grass on your ring finger or hold the grass in your hand.
• Sit facing south, as this is considered the direction of ancestors in Hindu tradition. Choose a quiet and pure space for your ritual seat (asana).
• Holding water, sesame, and Kusha in your hand, recite prayers to remember your ancestors and make a sankalp (spiritual intention) for tarpan. Offer the water slowly to the earth through the space between your thumb and forefinger.
• If you remember the names of your ancestors, recite them three times while offering water. If not, chant:
  “Om Sarva Pitru Devaya Namah” or
  “Samasta Pitrubhyah Namah, Pitrubhyah Tarpayami”
• While performing the ritual, keep chanting the mantra:
  “Om Pitruganaya Vidmahe, Jagaddharinai Dhimahi, Tanno Pitaro Prachodayat.”
• After tarpan, light a lamp (diya) in memory of your ancestors. Prepare satvik food and set aside a portion for cows, crows, dogs, and ants—an ancient practice that symbolises offering to all living beings.
• Offer water to a Peepal tree and in the evening, light a mustard oil lamp beneath it. This simple act is considered one of the most effective ways to receive the blessings of one’s forefathers.

Why Darsha Amavasya Is Spiritually Important

Darsha Amavasya is not just a date on the calendar—it is a moment to reconnect with our roots, honour those who came before us, and heal ancestral patterns. With the moon in darkness, it’s a reminder that unseen forces guide and bless our lives when we pause to remember them.

(Disclaimer: The information provided is based on traditional beliefs and religious texts. News9 Live does not endorse or validate these claims.)