Do you have to stay silent on Mauni Amavasya?

The name comes from maun, silence, and keeping it through the day is the traditional practice, but plenty of people observe it partially, keeping silence only until the bath and the morning worship. The other half of the day is the bath itself, ideally at a confluence, and charity of sesame and warm things. It's the biggest bathing day of the Magha season.

Mauni Amavasya

मौनी अमावस्या · મૌની અમાવસ

2026

18 January 2026

Sunday · Krishna Amavasya

Tithi begins12:04 AM

Tithi ends01:22 AM · 19 Jan

Full panchang for this day

About

Day of silence (mauna vrat). Sacred bath at Triveni Sangam. Highly auspicious, coincides with Magh Mela / Kumbh.

Falls on: Magha Amavasya, January or February.
Also called: Mauni Amavas, Maghi Amavasya, Mauna Amavasya, Darsha Amavasya

The story

Held to be the day Manu was born, and the day the waters of the world turn to nectar. The most significant bathing day of the Magha Mela, and the principal shahi snan of the Kumbh when one falls.

How it is observed

Silence, maun, kept through the day, and a pre-dawn bath at a confluence, ideally the Sangam at Prayagraj. Tarpan for ancestors, charity of sesame, blankets and food.

Food

Sesame and jaggery; many keep a full fast. Til laddoo and khichdi given in charity.

Regional variation

Prayagraj is the focus, drawing the largest single-day crowds of the Magha Mela. Also observed at Haridwar, Varanasi and Nashik. Less prominent in the south, where Thai Amavasai serves a similar purpose in Tamil Nadu.

Common questions

Do you have to stay silent on Mauni Amavasya?: The name comes from maun, silence, and keeping it through the day is the traditional practice, but plenty of people observe it partially, keeping silence only until the bath and the morning worship. The other half of the day is the bath itself, ideally at a confluence, and charity of sesame and warm things. It's the biggest bathing day of the Magha season.

Mauni Amavasya date in 2025 Mauni Amavasya date in 2027