Pithori Amavasya

Amavasya is new moon day in Hindu calendar. It is significant day as many rituals are performed only on Amavasya Tithi. Amavasya falling on weekday Monday is known as Somvati Amavasya and Amavasya falling on weekday Saturday is known as Shani Amavasya.

All Amavasya days are appropriate to perform Shradh rituals to appease ancestors. It is said that if one performs Pinda daan on Amavasya, offering to dead ancestors, it fetches great merits. Amavasya day is also appropriate day to perform Kalasarpa Dosha puja.

Pithori Amavasya or Pitori Amavas is the festival observed on the Amavasya (No Moon day) during Bhadrapad month or Bhadra month. As per Marati Calendar, Pithori Amavasya, also celebrated as Pola, falls on Amavasya in the Sravan month.

Pithori Amavasya is an observance performed by married woman for their children health and prosperity. ‘Pith’ means flour by which the name comes into existence. On Pitori Amavas, married women, especially mothers, worship 64 Goddesses for their children long life. In the past, idols of these 64 Goddesses were made of ‘Pith and some special recipes were offered to the Goddesses.

Saptamatrukas and Ashtamatrukas are also worshipped on Pitori Amavas. In Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, Shravan Amavasya is observed as Polala Amavasya. On Pithori Amavasya, performing Pitru Tharpan or the Pinda daan to dead ancestors is highly meritorious.