There is no need to be in any doubt about Somvati Amavasya 2026: it is on Monday, June 15. You will see people observing this new moon with rites for their ancestors, Shiva puja and acts of charity. While the Tithi itself goes from the 14th afternoon to the 15th morning, it is the Udaya Tithi that puts the fast on a Monday.
Date, Tithi and why it is June 15
We are looking at an Amavasya Tithi that starts at 12:19 PM on June 14 and doesn’t wind down until 08:23 AM the next day. Since the Tithi is in effect when the sun comes up on Monday, that is the day you will observe it.
It is an old Hindu custom to let the Tithi at sunrise call the shots for your vrats and rituals. So even if it begins on a Sunday, the fast and the puja are for Monday.
To make things simple, here is what you should put in your calendar:
– Amavasya in: 12:19 PM, June 14, 2026
– Amavasya out: 08:23 AM, June 15, 2026
– Brahma Muhurta: 4:03 am to 4:43 am
– Abhijit Muhurat: 11:54 am to 12:50 pm
– Sarvarth and Amrit Siddhi: 5:23 pm to 7:08 pm
Religious significance and the Monday factor
In Sanatan Dharma, Amavasya is for quiet reflection and for tarpan and other ways to honour those who have passed on. Vedic wisdom has it that the moonless night is for a kind of spiritual house-cleaning and to get in touch with oneself.
Make it a Monday and you have Somvati Amavasya. Being a day for Lord Shiva, it is when you put in a prayer for some contentment and a good married life. A lot of women will fast to wish their husbands a long and well life.
How devotees plan the day
You have your ancestor veneration, your Shiva bhakti and some charity on the menu. A holy bath is highly recommended, and Ganga Snan if you can make it happen. Giving is part of the day’s work.
Core rituals at home and shrines
Get up and have a bath. Put a diya on with some desi ghee as a nod to your ancestors and keep a peaceful head. Once you are done with pitru puja, you might recite a few mantras for Shiva or Vishnu.
If you can, have a Brahmin over for the tarpan. It is a matter of duty and gratitude to offer him sattvik food, some clothes and dakshina. And don’t forget to be of service to the less fortunate with food or a garment or two.
A trip to the temple for an abhishek of the Shivalingam with water or raw milk is in order. Put on the Belpatra, do the akshat and tilak, say your mantras and the aarti. Some also like to do a parikrama of the Peepal tree for the merit of it.
Then there is the feeding of cows and crows. Cows are thought to be home to the gods, and crows are the ones who bring word from your elders. These are offerings made with a certain humility.
Dos, donts and meaningful charity
You can’t have this day without some dāna. Rice, flour, salt, fruit, vegetables, milk, sugar – these are the usual. Footwear and clothes for someone who needs them is another way to put your service into practice.
But to keep the vrat from being broken, there are some things you just don’t do:
– No meat or drinking
– Leave the tamasic food alone
– Don’t let anger or a sharp tongue get the better of you
– Watch your thoughts
– Be civil and choose your company
More than just going through the motions, Somvati Amavasya is a chance to put your mind right. With the Tithi on June 15, 2026, you have the shubh times to do your puja, your bath and your giving, and in doing so, tie your remembrance of the past to your devotion to Shiva.
