Chaitra Amavasya: Check significance, rituals and traditions

Chaitra Amavasya, which will be observed on March 21, is an important day for Hindus as it marks the start of the new Samvat while also being the last day of the old one. On this day, people worship Hanuman Ji, Lord Vishnu, and the planet Mars, and perform shradh for their ancestors. Since it falls on a Tuesday this year, it is known as Bhaum Amavasya, which is considered a festival and celebrated accordingly.

As part of the rituals, people offer food to crows, cows, dogs, and the poor, and also believe that ancestors visit their descendants on Amavasya and offer them food. The Chaitra Amavasya Vrat is one of the most popular fasts in Hinduism and lasts from morning until the moon is seen on Pratipada.

It is recommended to worship Gods and Goddesses in the morning and perform incense-meditation for ancestors in the afternoon, as this is the best time for shradh, tarpan, and dhoop-meditation. Before performing these rituals, it is important to clean the house by burning a kanda made of cow dung. During the meditation, jaggery and ghee should be put on the coals, and water should be offered to the ancestors using the side of the thumb.




On Amavasya, it is also common to donate grains, money, and clothes to the needy as a way of placating one's ancestors. Chaitra Amavasya is a significant day for Hindus, and it is celebrated with devotion and rituals to honour the past and welcome the future.

FAQs:

1. What is Chaitra Amavasya?
   Chaitra Amavasya is the new moon day of the Chaitra month in the Hindu calendar.
2. What is the significance of Chaitra Amavasya?
   Chaitra Amavasya marks the last date of the old Samvat and the beginning of the new Samvat in the Hindu calendar. It is also believed to be a day when ancestors visit their descendants and offer food to them.