Divyachi Amavasya: A forgotten tradition in State

It’s Gatari Amavasya in Mah In Maharashtra and Goa this Amavasya is celebrated as “Gatari Amavasya.’ Maharashtrians abstain from different types of non-vegetarian food in Shravan month, since, the monsoon is at its peak and in this period stomach is most susceptible to different problems. Maharashtrians enjoy this Amavasya by consuming alcoholic drinks to increase the appetite and eating lot of non-vegetarian food.

‘NO MOON Day’ in the month of Ashadh is known as ‘Divyachi Awas’ in Maharashtra. The day has spiritual significance and is considered as auspicious day in the month of Ashadh across the country. People perform pujan of Deepa or lamp as a symbol of fire, one of the major elements of Pancha Mahabhutas. In some cases, devotees dedicate Deepa Puja to the Goddess Lakshmi, Goddess Parvati or Goddess Saraswati.

On this day, all the diyas are lit once again in the evening and placed around the house just like Diwali Puja. It is believed that the radiations of the light of the diyas drive out all the evil and bad powers and welcome brightness into life. It is also believed that Deepa Puja provides Asta Aishwarayas (eight types of wealth). The next day of Deepa Puja (Ashada Amavasya) is the holy Shravan Month. In Andhra Pradesh and Telangana this Amavasya is known as Chukkala Amavasya. Gauri Puja is the main ritual of Chukkala Amavasya.

In Karnataka Beemana Amavasya or Bhima Amavasya (Pathi Sajivini Vrata or Jyotir Bheemeswara Vrata), in Gujarat and North India it is celebrated as Hariyali Amavasya. Raj Karve, an astrologer from Goa says, “On this day ritualistic worship of lamps (deep) is done. Married women gather all the lamps in the house and clean them thoroughly and place them together. A rangoli is drawn around. Ritualistic worship of these lamps is done. An offering of various delicacies is made to these lamps and then prayer is offered unto the lamps by reciting a mantra.”

Madhura Bhosale of Sanatan Dharma says, “The flame of an ignited lamp (oil/ghee lamp) signifies the sacred Fire principle. Deep Poojan is done on Ashadha Amavasya to express gratitude unto the Agni. In the vedic era, Agni Deity had the highest seat of worship. In Rigveda, Agni is given the adjective as ‘Hota’, means a medium to invoke Deity or Energy. Fire Principle is considered as a bond connecting the Humans and the Deities.” “During the Chaturmas period, there is insufficiency of Sattvikta, Chaitanya and tej-tattva. The attack of negative energies is on large scale on Ashadha Amavasya in the chaturmas period. Hence it is of great significance of doing ritualistic worship of the lamps on the day of Ashadh Amavasya,” Bhosale states.