Mauni Amavasya 2026 in South Africa: Sun, Jan 18 — Puja Time by City

How the Mauni Amavasya date is decided

The tithi prevailing at local sunrise (Udaya tithi).

Significance

The most fruitful day of the Magh bath (bathing at dawn all through Magha); the shastras equate the Mauni Amavasya bath with a thousand Ganga baths. Sage Manu is believed to have been born on this day — 'Mauni' from 'Manu'.

Amavasya is the tithi of the ancestors — tarpan, pind-daan/grain charity satisfy them; remedies for Kaal Sarp/Pitru dosha are special on this day; Shani-related charity (sesame, black cloth, oil) too.

The rule of silence: do not speak at least until the bath, puja and charity are done (chant in the mind); the whole day in silence is best — it is also a rare day of quiet for the woman of the house.

Puja vidhi (brief)

1. Rise in Brahma Muhurat (time above) and stay silent; bathe in a river/pond (or at home with Gangajal and sesame in the water) — 'Om Namo Narayanaya' in the mind; arghya to the sun.
2. Sankalp (silently) — 'I do the Mauni Amavasya bath, charity and tarpan for the satisfaction of the ancestors and the family's welfare.'
3. Tarpan for the ancestors: facing south, water with black sesame, kusha and akshat in a copper lota, three offerings of water for each ancestor by name — done by the man of the house, women may do it too (for mother/grandmother); water and sesame to the peepal tree and a circumambulation.
4. Charity (after sunrise, till noon): black sesame, sesame laddoos, jaggery, blankets/woollens, ghee, grain, oil, shoes-umbrella (Shani) — to a Brahmin/the needy/a gaushala; green fodder to a cow, roti to crows and dogs (panch-bali).
5. Worship of Vishnu-Lakshmi and Shiva at home; water to Tulsi; women keeping the Amavasya fast take fruit/one meal.
6. Silence all day (or as long as possible) — reading, chanting and bhajan in the mind; no anger or quarrel; if silence must be broken, first the Lord's name.
7. In the evening a mustard-oil lamp at the Tulsi platform, under the peepal and at the main door (for the ancestors and Shani); Hanuman Chalisa or Shiva mantra on the Amavasya night.
8. Next morning (Pratipada) the normal routine; the Magh bath continues until Purnima.

Frequently asked questions

Is Mauni Amavasya 2026 on the same day in South Africa and India?

Yes — Sunday, January 18, 2026.

What is the puja time for Mauni Amavasya 2026 in Durban?

Purvahna (morning) Puja time: 5:12 AM to 10:43 AM (SAST). Other cities are in the table above.

Which time zone are these timings in?

Each row is in that city's own local time (South Africa Time (SAST) for Durban).

How long should the silence be kept?

The scriptural rule is the whole day; in practice, silence from waking until the bath, puja and charity are complete (at least 2-3 hours), chanting in the mind. The whole day, if you can, is best.

Can women do tarpan?

Yes — where there is no man in the house, or for their own parents, women may do tarpan (akshat-sesame-water in place of kusha); peepal worship and charity are in any case mainly done by women.

Is Shani charity also given on this day?

Amavasya is a tithi dear to Shani — charity of black sesame, mustard oil, black cloth, shoes-umbrella, iron; special if it falls on a Saturday (Shani Amavasya).

What is the link between Mauni Amavasya and the Kumbh?

Mauni Amavasya is the main royal bath of the Magh Mela/Kumbh/Ardh Kumbh at Prayag — drops of amrit are believed to descend into the Sangam on this day; in the 2025 Maha Kumbh the biggest bath was on this day.

Daily panchang in South Africa

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