Somvati Amavasya 2026: Date, Peepal Tree Puja & Pitru Tarpan Guide

Somvati Amavasya 2026 falls on March 30 and November 2, 2026. This auspicious Monday new moon combines Shiva's day with ancestor worship, and is especially observed by married women through Peepal tree parikrama for their husband's longevity.

Peepal Tree Parikrama Ritual

The central Somvati Amavasya ritual is circling the Peepal tree 108 times before sunrise, winding a red or white thread around its trunk with each round. Lord Vishnu is believed to reside in the Peepal tree, and this parikrama is said to grant protection and longevity to the husband. After the parikrama, Pitru Tarpan (water offering for ancestors) is performed facing south.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is Somvati Amavasya 2026?

Somvati Amavasya 2026 dates: March 30, 2026 (Monday Amavasya in Chaitra month) is the first and most significant Somvati Amavasya of 2026. The second Somvati Amavasya in 2026 falls on November 2, 2026 (Monday, Kartik Amavasya). Somvati Amavasya occurs only when the new moon (Amavasya) falls on a Monday, which happens roughly 2-4 times per year.

What is Somvati Amavasya?

Somvati Amavasya is the rare coincidence of the new moon (Amavasya) falling on a Monday (Somvar). 'Soma' means Moon and also Monday in Sanskrit. This day is considered especially sacred because it combines the spiritual power of Amavasya (ideal for ancestor rituals and pitru tarpan) with Monday's energy (sacred to Lord Shiva). Women particularly observe the Somvati Amavasya vrat for the longevity and well-being of their husbands.

What puja is done on Somvati Amavasya?

Somvati Amavasya rituals: Wake before sunrise and take a sacred bath (ideally in a river, or at home with Ganga jal added to bath water). Perform Pitru Tarpan (offering water with sesame seeds to ancestors). Visit a Peepal tree and circle it 108 times, tying a thread. Apply sindhur to the tree. Offer water, flowers, and lamps to the Peepal. Visit a Shiva temple and perform rudrabhishek or simple abhishek with milk and water. In evening, light a lamp under the Peepal tree.

What is the Peepal tree ritual on Somvati Amavasya?

The Peepal tree (Ficus religiosa) has special importance on Somvati Amavasya. The ritual involves: Waking before sunrise. Bathing. Going to a Peepal tree with a water pot, sesame seeds, flowers, and red thread. Circling the tree 108 times (parikrama) while winding a red or white thread around the trunk. Offering water with black sesame seeds (tarpan). Offering prasad. Women do this for the longevity of their husbands, believing Lord Vishnu resides in the Peepal on Somvati Amavasya.

Why is Somvati Amavasya important for married women?

Married women observe Somvati Amavasya vrat for the long life and prosperity of their husbands. The belief is that Savitri, the devoted wife who brought her husband Satyavan back from Yama (god of death), performed austerities near a Peepal tree. Circling the Peepal 108 times on Somvati Amavasya is believed to protect the husband's life and ward off untimely death. Women also observe a fast, eating only fruits or a single meal.

What is Pitru Tarpan on Somvati Amavasya?

Pitru Tarpan is the ritual offering of water, sesame, and flowers to one's ancestors on Amavasya. On Somvati Amavasya, this ritual is especially meritorious. The ritual: Face south (direction of ancestors). Hold water mixed with black sesame seeds in your cupped palms. Recite ancestral names or Pitru mantras. Let the water flow through your fingers onto the ground. Repeat for each known ancestor. The offering is believed to reach the ancestors in the pitru loka (realm of ancestors) and earn their blessings.

Can men observe Somvati Amavasya vrat?

Yes, while Somvati Amavasya vrat is particularly associated with married women, men can also observe it. For men, the focus is on Pitru Tarpan (ancestor offerings), visiting a Shiva temple, and Peepal tree worship. Observing Somvati Amavasya is considered beneficial for all family members, especially for those seeking blessings from ancestors and Lord Shiva. Some men also observe a partial fast, eating only one meal of sattvic food.

What are the benefits of observing Somvati Amavasya?

Spiritual benefits of Somvati Amavasya: Protection from untimely death in the family (especially husband's longevity for married women). Relief from ancestor-related afflictions (Pitru Dosha). Merit equivalent to performing pilgrimages at sacred rivers. Blessings from Lord Shiva (Monday is Shiva's day). Ancestral blessings for prosperity and health of the family lineage. In astrology, observing this Amavasya is said to help reduce the negative effects of Moon afflictions in the birth chart.

What foods are eaten and avoided on Somvati Amavasya?

Somvati Amavasya fasting rules: Eat only sattvic (pure) food: fruits, milk, sabudana, sendha namak (rock salt), and water. Avoid: non-vegetarian food, alcohol, onion, garlic, regular salt, lentils, and rice (if observing strict fast). Many women eat only one meal of fruits and milk during the day. The fast is broken in the evening after sunset, after completing all rituals at the Peepal tree and Shiva temple.