मौनी अमावस्या

Mauni Amavasya is the last Amavasya before Mahashivratri. It is day to give rest to mind. मौन does not only mean, not to speak anything but to calm down mind and remain in silence.

Rituals during Mauni Amavasya:

(http://www.prokerala.com/festivals/mauni-amavasya.html)

• The devotees get up early on the day of Mauni Amavasya to take holy dip in the Ganges at sunrise. If a person cannot visit any pilgrimage destination on this day, he/she must add little Ganga ‘jal’ to the bathing water. It is widespread belief that while taking bath, one must remain quiet. On this day devotees also worship Lord Brahma and recite the ‘Gayatri mantra’.
• After finishing the bathing ritual, devotees then sit down for meditation. Meditation is a practice that helps to concentrate and attain inner peace. On the day of Mauni Amavasya any wrong actions must be avoided.
• Some of the devotees observe complete ‘mauna’ or silence on the day of Mauni Amavasya. They abstain from speaking all day long and only meditate to attain the state of oneness with self. This practice is known as ‘Mauna Vrat’. If a person cannot keep, mauna vrat, for the complete day, he/she must maintain silence until finishing the puja rituals.
• On the day of Mauni Amavasya, thousand of Hindu devotees along with the ‘kalpavasis’ take a holy dip in ‘Sangam’ at Prayag and spend the rest of the day in meditation.
• In the Hindu religion, the day of Mauni Amavasya is also appropriate for relieving pirtu dosh. People offer ‘tarpan’ to their ‘pitrs’ or ancestors to seek forgiveness and attain their blessings. On this day people offer food to dog, crow, cow and kusht rogi.
• Offering charity is another important ritual for the day. ‘Magha’ is an important month in the Hindu calendar. On this day people donate food, clothes and other essentials to the poor and needy people. There is also a ritual of offering sesame (til) oil to Shani Dev.