Moon Rhythms: Rituals of Bhadrapada Amavasya

Amavasya is the night of the New Moon. As the Moon wanes into darkness, Amavasya marks the Moonless night when the Moon is not visible in the sky. From the next day onward, the Moon begins to grow into fullness and radiance, until Purnima or the night of the Full Moon. Amavasya brings to close one lunar cycle and begins another, making it a time suited for introspection, stillness, and pause, before everything begins anew.

In the Vedic understanding, Amavasya, or the New Moon night, has always been considered sacred for offering prayers as well as for honouring one’s ancestors.

The Amavasya of the Bhadrapada month is especially significant and is marked by two distinct traditions in different parts of the subcontinent: in one part of the subcontinent, the Amavasya of Bhadrapada is celebrated as Kusha Amavasya, and in another parts, the same Amavasya is celebrated as Pithori Amavasya.

Kusha Amavasya

In many parts of eastern India, especially in and around Bihar, this day is observed as Kusha Amavasya, dedicated to Kusha, the sacred grass in the Vedic tradition.

Kusha grass (Desmostachya bipinnata) is considered auspicious and is used in various Vedic rituals, especially in Shraddha (ancestral offerings) and Pitru Paksha (the fortnight of ancestors). The Atharvaveda mentions Kusha as a grass that can protect from negative energies and bring mental calm.

On this day, devotees and priests follow the traditional practice of collecting Kusha, a ritual known as Kushotpatani. This is done at a specific time, often early in the morning, and with a prescribed method.

While plucking the grass, a mantra is recited that invokes the Earth, Lord Shiva (Rudra), Lord Vishnu, and Lord Brahma. This mantra requests the Earth to grant the sacred Kusha grass, which is said to have Rudra at the tip, Vishnu in the middle, and Brahma at the root.

Once collected, the Kusha is kept to be used throughout the year in various religious and ancestral rituals.

This Amavasya holds special importance as it falls just before Pitru Paksha, which begins in the following month of Ashvina. Collecting Kusha becomes a preparatory step in honouring one’s ancestors during the fortnight ahead.

Pithori Amavasya

In other parts of India, especially Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, and Uttar Pradesh, the same Amavasya is celebrated as Pithori Amavasya, which honours the Goddess and divine feminine energy.

On this day, women, especially those who wish to have children and mothers, observe a fast and offer prayers to the Goddess for the health and long life of their children.

The name ‘Pithori’ is believed to come from the use of ‘pith’ (flour) in the ritual. Traditionally, small idols of goddesses were made from flour, which were then worshipped at home.

As part of this observance, women often worship the Chausath Yoginis (sixty-four forms of the Goddess, associated with the Shakti and Tantra traditions) or the Saptamatrikas (the seven mother goddesses).

While Kusha Amavasya and Pithori Amavasya differ in their rituals and intentions, both share a beautiful and philosophical connection to family, continuity and the rhythms of time. One honours the past through ancestral rites; the other safeguards the future through prayers for children.

Both observances offer a way to mark Bhadrapada Amavasya with mindfulness, grounding it in tradition and reflection.