Festival Today (February 27, 2025): Celebrate, Reflect and Make a Difference This Phalguna Amavasya Phalguna Amavasya 2025: Date and Time *Amavasya Begins* - February 27, 2025 - 08:54 AM, February 27 Amavasya Ends - February 28, 2025 - 06:14 AM The Darsha or Phalguna Amavasya falling on February 27, 2025, has immense spiritual significance, as it marks the end of one lunar cycle and the beginning of the next. The Amavasya of the Phalguna month is a time when people should reflect on themselves, while doing spiritual purification and making new beginnings. The moon is not visible in the night sky, which symbolizes the end of old energies, paving the way for transformation and renewal. This Amavasya falling on Thursday strengthens its spiritual power by combining the energies of Jupiter with lunar darkness, enhancing both ancestral connection and spiritual wisdom as well as personal purification. The current period provides excellent conditions for honoring ancestors through tarpana rituals, deep meditation, and setting goals for the new cycle. Those who fast, perform charity, and participate in holy rituals on this day erase the burden of their past karma and receive blessings of success and peace. Devotees should use this spiritual occasion of Phalgun Amavasya to purify themselves through inner contemplation and achieve outer peace. *Significance of Darshan/Phalgun Amavasya* Amavasya represents the darkest period of the lunar cycle as this time naturally draws people towards meditation and contemplation. During the Darshan Amavasya of the month of Phalgun, the spiritual significance increases even more as devotees can honor their ancestors and purify themselves from the obstacles of life while connecting with the divine power. The word Darshan means "to see" as this particular Amavasya provides a spiritual understanding of oneself and one's accumulated karma. The timing of this lunar phase provides an optimal opportunity to perform Pitru Tarpana and Shradh rituals, which help appease the spirits of ancestors. Hindu tradition recognizes ancestors as the original members of the spiritual lineage as their blessings determine the health and well-being of individuals and their families. Offering prayers, charity, and food for the deceased brings life balance and debt forgiveness. This day generates spiritual energy that improves both individual life and the energy of the family and community. The Phalguna Amavasya day that falls on Thursday gains additional meaning as Jupiter rules it and symbolizes wisdom, dharma and growth. The spiritual power of this day allows people to deepen their understanding of divine matters while providing an excellent environment for goal setting as well as meditation and scripture study. The sacred observance of this special night allows individuals with financial problems, family conflicts or emotional difficulties to receive Jupiter's blessings for spiritual growth. People should use this period to heal themselves and enter a new state of conscious awareness. *Rituals and Practices on Darsha/Phalgun Amavasya* People perform holy rituals on Darsha/Phalgun Amavasya to end the obligations of past karmas and receive divine blessings. The day begins with a holy bath, which should ideally be performed in holy rivers, but adding Ganga water to the bathing water is a suitable option. Wearing white or yellow clothes generates sattvik vibrations, creating a favorable environment for spiritual practice. People observe a fast on Amavasya to achieve purification of the body while developing self-control. Those who observe this fasting period either do not eat food completely or eat sattvik food, which includes milk products, fruits, and light foods. Spiritual awareness increases through fasting as it keeps the mind clean, which provides better access to divine energies. The performance of Pitru Tarpana at noon represents the major religious ritual for this Amavasya. The use of black sesame seeds with water and cooked food enables devotees to show their gratitude and seek blessings from their ancestors. Family well-being and prosperity emerge when devotees light a lamp for the dead to help them peacefully move to higher spiritual levels. The religious rituals of evening prayers on Amavasya require devotees to worship Lord Vishnu, Lord Shiva or Goddess Lakshmi to invite good fortune and remove all obstacles. Devotees light a mustard oil lamp under a Peepal tree to eliminate adverse planetary effects and remove the burden of karma by walking seven times. Spiritual advancement is strengthened through meditation and mantra chanting, especially Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevay and the Maha Mrityunjaya mantra. *Dos and Don'ts on Darsha/Phalguna Amavasya* The spiritual power increases during Darsha/Phalguna Amavasya when people perform activities that match its sacred power. Devotees should use self-reflection, meditation and charity activities to purify their karmic path. When people receive food, clothing or monetary donations from the needy, it creates positive karma, bringing divine blessings. Participating in mantra chanting, especially for planetary peace and ancestral blessings, enables one to eliminate past burdens while creating harmonious conditions for the future. One should maintain a disciplined mental state throughout this day. The powerful lunar phase energy can be absorbed best by avoiding unnecessary speech, negative thoughts and worldly distractions. Devotees should read sacred texts including the Bhagavad Gita, Vishnu Sahasranama and Shiva Purana to enhance their spiritual knowledge. Performing evening prayers by lighting a diya at the temple or home altar creates positive energy, which protects against negative forces. People should completely refrain from certain activities on this day. Consumption of tamasic foods including onion, garlic and alcohol, along with non-vegetarian items, disrupts the flow of spiritual waves. Any argumentative behavior along with disputes and dishonest activities will reduce the power of this spiritual ritual. People need to reduce their activities related to new business formation, financial planning and long travel on this holy day as Amavasya promotes inner growth rather than outer growth. The practice of sleeping during the day is disapproved of as it reportedly makes people lazy and reduces the spiritual benefits of fasting. Remedies for a better life Phalgun Amavasya creates a special situation for people to connect with cosmic forces, which helps them overcome obstacles that hinder their advancement. People practicing specific spiritual remedies during this day enhance their growth while clearing past karmic obligations to create peaceful times. A devoted performance of Pitra Tarpana invokes strong blessings from ancestors while resolving present and past conflicts within the family. Chanting the Pitra Gayatri Mantra or Om Namo Narayanaya 108 times clears karmic debts and creates peaceful conditions for deceased individuals. People seek divine protection and prosperity by offering water and black sesame seeds along with some rice grains to the Sun at sunrise. Financial success can be achieved by seeking blessings of Jupiter by donating food or ghee or yellow items to Brahmins and temples. People believe that offering milk in Shiva temples while praying near a Peepal tree removes planetary bad luck and brings financial success. Those who need health support should perform Mahamrityunjaya chanting using a ghee lamp and prayer rituals for health recovery. People can bring their positive intentions into reality by writing personal wishes on a white cloth and placing them next to the Vishnu idol. Placing a silver coin or a small piece of turmeric at the prayer spot strengthens Jupiter's energy and brings wisdom and stability. The lasting benefits of this holy Amavasya depend mainly on dedicating your mind, expressing gratitude, and performing selfless deeds. The holy ritual of Darsha/Phalgun Amavasya allows believers to purify their souls while establishing spiritual and material success. When people connect their minds and bodies with the cosmic power of this holy evening, they receive spiritual peace, divine blessings, and wise direction.