Pithori Amavasya 2025: 7 Common Mistakes You Must Avoid

Pithori Amavasya in 2025 is on August 22. It’s more than just a regular day in the Hindu calendar. This day has a special spiritual meaning. It’s a time to remember and honor our ancestors. It’s also a day to show respect and think deeply. People use this time to connect again with the eternal wisdom of SanatanGyan. 

Pithori Amavasya 2025, also known as Kush Amavasya, is observed on August 22, 2025, and holds great importance in the Sanatangyan tradition. It is a day to honour ancestors through tarpan, shraddha, and other rituals. On this day, women pray to Goddess Durga for the health and happiness of their children. However, doing certain things can upset the ancestors and bring Pitru Dosha (ancestral imbalance). To keep the day pure and receive blessings from your ancestors, here are seven things you should avoid.

Pithori Amavasya 2025: Discover 7 Things to Avoid on August 22

Faith in Sanatangyan practices isn’t about fear, but about discipline aligned with cosmic energy. This is a special and sacred day. There are certain things you should avoid. These help keep your mind and environment spiritually pure. They also make sure that nothing disturbs the process of honoring your ancestors. 

Here are seven mistakes that must be avoided:

1. Avoid Eating Non-Vegetarian Food and Alcohol

On this day, avoid eating Tamasik foods like meat, eggs, fish, and alcohol. These items are believed to disturb the spiritual energy around us. They are also seen as disrespectful to the souls of our ancestors who visit on this day. Instead it is advised to offer simple vegetarian food (Satvik Bhojan) to Brahmins and the needy.

 "अनन्नं न दद्यात् पित्रे, अमावास्यायां विशेषतः।"

Translation: One must not offer impure or unsuitable food to ancestors, especially on Amavasya. (Garuda Purana)

2. Do Not Neglect Tarpan or Shraddha Rituals

One of the gravest mistakes is skipping ancestral rituals. The Shashtras prescribe that Pithori Amavasya is meant for performing Pitra Tarpan, even if it's a simple offering of water and sesame seeds (tilodak).

"यान्ति पितरः तृप्तिं, त्रिपञ्चाशद्दिनं तु यः।"

"Ancestors feel satisfied for 50 days by one sincere offering." — (Garuda Purana)

Even if you can't go to a river or do big rituals, you can still pray with a humble heart. Our spiritual teachers remind us that true intention and faith matter more than how grand the ritual is. 

3. Do Not Make Significant Purchases or Decisions

Pithori Amavasya is not a good day to start new projects or make big purchases. The Sanatan belief is that this day, being dedicated to honoring departed souls, is unsuitable for starting new financial or spiritual commitments. Avoid buying precious metals such as gold or silver, or spiritual items like Rudraksha beads and Yantras. Signing contracts or making life-altering decisions on this day could invite obstacles.

4. Do Not Consume Certain Foods

On this day, avoid eating non-vegetarian food. Also, stay away from some other foods like chickpeas, red lentils, radish, black salt, cucumber, and barley. These foods are believed to disturb the pure energy needed to connect with the spirits of our ancestors. Keeping your energy clean helps in honoring them properly.

5. Avoid Hair or Nail Cutting

Cutting nails or trimming hair on Pithori Amavasya is considered unlucky. People believe this brings negative energy. It also shows disrespect to the sacredness of the day. This act is thought to affect our subtle body. It can interfere with spiritual practices too. 

"अमावास्यायां केशच्छेदनं निषिद्धम्।"

Translation: Cutting hair on Amavasya is strictly prohibited. (Katyayana Smriti)

6. Do Not Apply Hair Oil

Oiling your hair may seem like a small thing. But doing it on Amavasya is seen as an indulgence. It can take away from the seriousness of the day. Instead, the scriptures advise donating oil. Sesame oil is especially recommended. This helps reduce the bad effects of Shani (Saturn).

"दानं शमयति पापानि।"

"Charity destroys sins." — Manusmriti

When you skip personal pampering and focus on giving donations (daan), you move from caring only for yourself to caring for others. This is an important teaching in SanatanGyan.

7. Do Not Begin New Ventures

Starting a new business, moving to a new home, or beginning new work on Pithori Amavasya is considered unlucky. This day is meant for finishing things, forgiving others, and settling past actions—not for starting something new.

Vedic astrologers often suggest that Amavasya brings strong lunar influence, which can cloud judgment. Wait for a brighter, more auspicious tithi for starting something new.

Pithori Amavasya in 2025 holds special sanctity. This observance invites us to pay quiet homage to our forebears, seated in humility, letting their memory light our conduct. While rites like tarpan and shraddha are central to the day, several actions can mar its sanctity if indulged. Seven frequent oversights deserve mindful notice. Consuming stale or incompatible food, beginning any venture—however small—without introspection, are among these. Eschewing them, we cultivate a receptive atmosphere, drawing in the serene kindness our ancestors lovingly offer. This exchange of reverence is, in turn, renewed blessing. On this lunar, night let a gentle, steady discipline married to genuine devotion map every hour we spend.