New Moon

(amavasya) In northern India, the new
moon usually marks the midpoint of the
lunar month, whereas in southern India
it often identifies the end. Unlike the full
moon, whose associations with fullness
and completion make it always auspicious, the new moon’s associations with
darkness and emptiness make it a more
ambiguous time. One of the most
important festivals in the Hindu religious year, Diwali, falls on the new
moon in Kartik (October–November).
The new moon can also be highly auspicious on certain other occasions, such
as a Somavati Amavasya, a new moon
falling on a Monday. In general, however,
the new moon is less clearly auspicious
than the full moon. Not only are there
fewer celebrations during the new
moon, but there is also a proportionately
greater number of holidays falling in the
light, waxing half of the lunar month.
The new moon and the dark, waning
half are not in themselves inauspicious,
they are simply deemed less auspicious
than the light half and the full moon.