Mauni Amavasya 1996
The silent bath of Magha — the greatest snan of the Magha Mela.
Muhurat & timings
Kashi/IST · astronomically computed- Sankalp (sunrise)06:44
- Sunset17:32
- Fasting window (tithi)1996-01-19 · 22:10 → 18:20
- Parana (tithi ends)18:20
Festival days follow the classical attribution rules — udaya (sunrise), pradosha (evening), nishita (midnight), madhyahna or aparahna vyapini as each festival prescribes — computed for Kashi/Varanasi (IST). Regional observance can differ by a day in some years.
Read the Mauni Amavasya puja vidhi, vrat rules and kathaMauni Amavasya — Frequently Asked Questions
When is Mauni Amavasya?
On the Amavasya (new moon) of Magha, in the cold of January–February. It is the principal bathing day of the Magh Mela and Kumbh at Prayagraj. This year's date is shown above.
Why is silence kept on Mauni Amavasya?
The day's name is from mauna, silence, linked to Manu and to the muni whose stilled speech reflects a stilled mind. A day without speech rests and turns the mind inward, deepening the merit of the bath and japa.
Why is the Sangam bath so important on this day?
Prayag is the tirtha-raja, where Ganga, Yamuna and the unseen Saraswati meet, and the new moon of Magha is held the most auspicious day to bathe there — the spiritual peak of the Magh Mela and the Kalpavas.
Can Mauni Amavasya be kept without going to Prayag?
Yes. A bath in any sacred river, or with Ganga-jal at home, together with the mauna vrat, til-daan, tarpan for the ancestors and silent japa, is the observance where the Sangam is out of reach.
Other major festivals in 1996
- Makar Sankranti — 14 January 1996
- Vasant Panchami — 24 January 1996
- Maha Shivaratri — 17 February 1996
- Holika Dahan — 4 March 1996
- Holi — 6 March 1996
- Chaitra Navratri begins — 20 March 1996
- Ram Navami — 28 March 1996
- Akshaya Tritiya — 20 April 1996
- Jagannath Rath Yatra — 17 July 1996
- Guru Purnima — 30 July 1996
- Nag Panchami — 19 August 1996
- Raksha Bandhan — 28 August 1996
- Krishna Janmashtami — 4 September 1996
- Hartalika Teej — 16 September 1996
- Ganesh Chaturthi — 16 September 1996
- Anant Chaturdashi — 26 September 1996
- Pitru Paksha begins — 28 September 1996
- Sharad Navratri begins — 13 October 1996
- Durga Ashtami — 20 October 1996
- Maha Navami — 21 October 1996
- Dussehra / Vijayadashami — 21 October 1996
- Karwa Chauth — 29 October 1996
- Dhanteras — 8 November 1996
- Naraka Chaturdashi (Choti Diwali) — 10 November 1996
- Diwali (Lakshmi Puja) — 10 November 1996
- Govardhan Puja — 12 November 1996
- Bhai Dooj — 13 November 1996
- Chhath Puja — 16 November 1996
- Kartik Purnima (Dev Deepawali) — 25 November 1996
- Guru Nanak Jayanti — 25 November 1996
- Hindu Festivals 1996 →