Hariyali Amavasya

Hariyali Amavasya is observed on the new moon day (Amavasya) of the Hindu month of Shravan.

It will be observed on Friday, July 25, 2025, and marks the arrival of the monsoon and celebrates the nature and greenery around. 

Hariyali Amavasya literally means “Green New Moon.” “Hariyali” stands for greenery, and “Amavasya” means the new moon day.

It marks the time when the earth turns lush and green after the dry summer, thanks to the monsoon rains.

The date of Hariyali Amavasya may change each year, but it usually falls a few days before or after Hariyali Teej, depending on local traditions.

Origin of Hariyali Amavasya

According to an old mythological tale, there once lived a moneylender with his son and daughter-in-law.

One day, the daughter-in-law secretly ate some sweets from the house and blamed the rats for it.

This made the rats very angry. They remembered this insult and decided to take revenge one day.

Later, when some guests visited the moneylender’s house, the rats dragged the daughter-in-law’s clothes and placed them on the guests' bed.

The next morning, when the servants came to clean the room and saw the clothes, they started whispering and spreading rumors.

The moneylender heard about this and, without knowing the truth, assumed that his daughter-in-law had done something wrong.

Believing her to be of bad character, he threw her out of the house.

Even after being thrown out, the daughter-in-law remained kind and devoted. Every day, she lit a lamp and placed it under the Peepal tree.

One day, the tired moneylender sat under that same tree. There, he overheard two lamps talking.

One lamp told the other that it belonged to the house of the city’s moneylender and that the moneylender's daughter-in-law placed it under the Peepal tree daily.

The lamp then told the whole truth: how the rats had taken revenge by moving the daughter-in-law’s clothes, and how she had been wrongly accused.

The lamp also shared how she still worshiped with pure heart and now offered Paav (a type of prasad) instead of sweets.

Earlier, she used to offer prasad on Hariyali Amavasya (New Moon of Shravan month), a day connected to greenery and worship.

Hearing this, the moneylender realized his mistake. He rushed home, told his wife everything, and respectfully brought his daughter-in-law back home along with her co-sister.

From that year onward, the entire family began worshiping on Hariyali Amavasya and offering prasad under the Peepal tree.

Since then, Hariyali Amavasya has been celebrated as a day of worship, greenery, forgiveness, and devotion, especially by women.

Celebrations Across The Country

Hariyali Amavasya is celebrated with great enthusiasm majorly across North India particularly in states such as Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh and in some areas of Madhya Pradesh. 

This day holds cultural and religious significance, especially for women who worship for the well-being of their families and the prosperity of their homes.

One of the most iconic celebrations of Hariyali Amavasya takes place in Jaipur, where the City Palace and Jal Mahal become the center of a grand two-day fair.

This festive mela draws large crowds, with both locals and tourists enjoying folk dances, traditional music, and a delicious spread of street food.

The whole city bursts with greenery and lively energy.

In sacred cities like Ujjain and Varanasi, the day is marked with deep spiritual devotion.

Devotees gather at riverbanks to take holy dips and perform pitru tarpan—ritual offerings made to honor their ancestors and seek blessings for peace and prosperity.

In addition to rituals and fairs, Hariyali Amavasya also encourages environmental consciousness.

Schools, villages, and local organizations come together to organize mass tree-planting drives.

These efforts celebrate nature and symbolize the connection between greenery and growth, staying true to the spirit of the festival.