Ashadha Amavasya, observed this year on June 25, holds deep spiritual significance in Hindu tradition as a day dedicated to honoring ancestors. Devotees across India prepare to mark the occasion with ritual baths in holy rivers, offerings, and specific lamp-lighting practices said to bring peace to departed souls and blessings to the living.
Significance of Ashadha Amavasya for Ancestors
This new moon day, which falls during the month of Ashadha in the Hindu lunar calendar, is considered highly auspicious for performing tarpan (ancestral offerings) and pind daan (rituals for the departed). According to traditional beliefs, bathing in sacred rivers and offering food or donations on this day help bring moksha (liberation) to ancestors and ensure their spiritual contentment.
For those unable to visit rivers or pilgrimage sites, specific lamp-lighting rituals at home are considered equally powerful in expressing devotion and gratitude to forefathers.
Date and Timings of Ashadha Amavasya 2025
As per the Panchang (Hindu calendar), Ashadha Amavasya begins at 7:02 PM on June 24 and ends at 4:04 PM on June 25. Following the Udaya Tithi (sunrise-based calculation), the main observance will take place on June 25.
That day is ideal for tarpan, daan-punya (charity and meritorious deeds), and various spiritual practices, all performed to seek ancestral blessings and to purify one’s karmic lineage.
Lamp Rituals That Benefit the Ancestors
1. Light a Lamp for Goddess Lakshmi at Home
On the evening of Ashadha Amavasya, it is considered auspicious to light a ghee or mustard oil lamp near the main entrance of your house. Placing a lotta (brass vessel) filled with water next to the lamp and keeping the door slightly open is believed to invite positive energy and prosperity, symbolizing the welcoming of Goddess Lakshmi.
2. Mustard Oil Lamp at the Main Door for Ancestors
To honor Pitru Devtas (ancestral spirits), a mustard oil lamp should be lit at the main entrance of the house. Tradition says that on Amavasya evening, ancestral souls begin their journey back to their realm. By illuminating their path with a lamp, devotees believe they can bring joy to the ancestors, who in return bestow blessings on the household.
3. Lamp Before Ancestral Photographs
While many regularly place lamps before deities and ancestral photos, doing so specifically on Ashadha Amavasya is considered a vital gesture of devotion. Lighting a lamp in front of the pictures or shrines dedicated to forefathers is seen as a sacred symbol of remembrance and reverence.
4. Two Lamps Under the Peepal Tree
Worshipping the Peepal tree (Sacred Fig) on Ashadha Amavasya is believed to bring exceptional spiritual merit. Light two separate lamps beneath the tree—
One with sesame oil (til ka tel) dedicated to the gods
Another with mustard oil for the ancestors
This dual offering is said to create a bridge between divine and ancestral blessings, enriching the devotee’s life with peace and spiritual clarity.
Charity and Devotion: A Path to Grace
While traditional rituals like bathing in holy waters and offering food are central, those who cannot perform them physically are encouraged to engage in prayers, lighting lamps, and giving in charity. Whether through feeding the poor, donating essentials, or chanting mantras, every act done with sincerity is believed to please the ancestors and elevate their souls.
Ashadha Amavasya 2025: Honoring the Unseen Pillars of the Past
As Ashadha Amavasya approaches, millions will observe the sacred traditions passed down for generations—not out of fear, but from love and respect for those who came before. Through fire, water, and light, devotees connect with the souls of their ancestors, keeping their memory alive and ensuring that the past continues to bless the present.
