Ashwina Amavasya 2026

Ashwayuja Amavasya: The Night of Deepavali

Ashwayuja Amavasya is the new moon day that ends the Bahula (Krishna) Paksha of the Ashwayuja month. In Andhra Pradesh and Telangana this is the day of Deepavali, when Lakshmi Puja is performed in the evening. It falls the day after Naraka Chaturdashi and is the brightest dark night of the year.

Puranic Background

Tradition holds that Sri Mahalakshmi, who emerged from the churning of the milk ocean, chose Sri Maha Vishnu on this day, and that she visits the homes of devotees on this night. The story of Sri Rama returning to Ayodhya after defeating Ravana, welcomed with rows of lamps, is also widely told. Since it is an Amavasya, many families also remember their ancestors and offer tarpanam.

How to Perform the Puja

• Clean the house in the morning, tie mango leaf thoranams on the doors and draw muggulu at the entrance.
• Families who observe Amavasya tarpanam offer it to the ancestors before midday.
• In the evening, during pradosha time, place a picture or idol of Lakshmi Devi on a decorated peetham and set up a kalasham.
• Worship with turmeric, kumkum, lotus flowers and akshatalu, and recite the Lakshmi Ashtottaram or Sri Suktam.
• Offer naivedyam such as payasam, bobbatlu, garelu and laddus.
• After the puja, light sesame oil lamps in clay pramidalu all around the house.

Telugu Customs

Traders worship new account books on this day. In many villages, children wrap oiled cloth around gogu sticks, light them and wave them while chanting "Dibbu dibbu Deepavali, malli vacche Nagula Chavithi". Firecrackers, chichubuddlu and kakara puvvottulu follow. Some families also observe the Kedareswara Vratham on this Amavasya.

Significance

Lighting up the darkest night of the month symbolises removing ignorance and inviting knowledge, prosperity and peace. Elders say Lakshmi Devi stays where there is cleanliness, charity and harmony in the family.

May the lamps of Ashwayuja Amavasya fill your home with prosperity, health and joy.