Phalguna Amavasya 2026: Solar eclipse today; Know important timings, shubh muhurat, puja rituals and more

Phalguna Amavasya 2026: Find the exact date, auspicious timings, key rituals, and all the essential details you need to observe this important day.

Phalguna Amavasya 2026: In the Hindu lunar calendar, Amavasya, or the New Moon day, carries profound spiritual significance and is regarded as an especially auspicious time for performing rituals to honour one’s ancestors. When Amavasya falls in the month of Phalguna, it is known as Phalguna Amavasya.

Also called Darsha Amavasya, this day marks the end of Krishna Paksha, the waning phase of the moon in this sacred month. Devotees across India observe the occasion with reverence, offering prayers, performing ancestral rites, and engaging in charitable acts for the peace and welfare of their forefathers’ souls.

Phalguna Amavasya 2026 date timings

This year, the significant festival of Phalguna Amavasya will be observed on Tuesday, February 17. According to Drik Panchang, the auspicious timings to observe the occasion are as follows:

• Amavasya tithi begins: 5:34 PM, February 16
• Amavasya tithi ends: 5:30 PM, February 17
• Snan (Bathing) time: 5:16 AM to 6:07 AM
• Amrit Kaal muhurat: 10:39 AM to 12:17 PM

Will solar eclipse be visible on Phalguna Amavasya

The first solar eclipse of the year is set to occur on Phalguna Amavasya. This event will be an annular solar eclipse, during which the Moon passes in front of the Sun but does not completely cover it, producing the spectacular “ring of fire” appearance. Although visually captivating, the peak phase lasts only for a short duration.

However, the eclipse will not be visible from India. Therefore, customary religious practices and observances associated with viewing a solar eclipse will not come into effect for devotees in the country.

Phalguna Amavasya is a day to honor ancestors through rituals like Tarpan and Pind Daan.

Phalguna Amavasya 2026 rituals

Phalguna Amavasya is primarily observed as a day to honour ancestors through sacred rites such as Tarpan, Pind Daan, and Shraddha. Devotees offer food, water, and prayers to seek peace for departed souls and relief from Pitru Dosha. The day is also regarded as favourable for mitigating planetary imbalances, including Kaal Sarp Dosha and Shani Dosha.

Many devotees observe a fast and engage in charitable acts, donating food, clothes, sesame seeds, and black gram to Brahmins and the needy. Feeding cows is considered especially auspicious. Lighting a lamp filled with mustard oil or ghee, either at home or beneath a peepal tree, is believed to ward off negative energies and invite divine blessings.

Spiritual practices such as performing Rudrabhishek, chanting sacred mantras, and meditating are also common on this day to promote inner peace and spiritual growth. Reciting the Shani Chalisa and placing a diya under a peepal tree are widely followed rituals. Additionally, visiting holy rivers or temples and conducting Pitru Tarpan under the guidance of a qualified priest is considered highly beneficial for seeking ancestral grace.