Amavasya 2016 - The No moon Day in Hindu Calendar 2016

In 2016, there are 12 Amavasya based on the Indian Standard Time

Mahalaya Amavasi in 2016 is on September 30. 

Amavasya is known as the no moon day in traditional Hindu calendar. It is the darkest day in the Hindu month and also the last day in a month in the traditional Hindu calendars.

There are many Hindus who undertake a complete fast on Amavasi. 

Some Hindu communities only take a single meal on the day. 

The day is considered apt for doing Tarpan and Shradh for dead parents and other relatives.

February 8, 2016, Monday

March 9, 2016, Wednesday

April 7, 2016, Thursday

May 6, 2016, Friday

June 5, 2016, Sunday

July 4, 2016, Monday

August 2, 2016, Tuesday

September 1, 2016, Thursday

September 30, 2016, Friday - Mahalaya - Pitrupaksha Shradh ends

October 30, 2016, Sunday - Diwali - Lakshmi Puja - Kali Puja

November 29, 2016, Tuesday

December 29, 2016, Wednesday

Mercury retrograde 2016

Mercury will be in retrograde until Jan. 25. It's a time of confusion and delays, but it's also a time for reflection.

What does Mercury in retrograde mean? Sometimes it appears as though planets are moving backwards through the zodiac, which is called “retrograde motion,” according to Almanac.com. Mercury does this three to four times a year. When this happens people can experience confusion, frustration and delay.

How do you handle Mercury in retrograde? Because of the negative effects Mercury in retrograde has, it’s best to be as laid back as possible.

Travel and automobiles: One of the things people can do to make commuting easier is allow for extra time to travel. It’s also considered a bad time to buy a new car or sign a lease.

Communication: Tradition says that there’s a lot of miscommunication when Mercury is in retrograde, so people should choose their words carefully. Try not to get frustrated if there is an issue understanding friends and family-- just blame Mercury!

Technology: One way to not be too affected by breakdowns is to anticipate that electronics might not work as planned. Double-check spelling in texts, emails and social media since people are normally accident-prone during this time.

Contracts: Don’t sign any contracts. Instead, look over projects and plans during this time and wait until Mercury is out of retrograde to make final decisions.

Finding the positive: Mercury in retrograde is normally associated with negativity, but it can be a good time to reflect. Since it’s happening early in 2016, why not set goals for the new year?

Mercury will be in retrograde from Jan. 5-25. 
April 28-May 22
Aug. 30 to Sept. 22 and 
Dec. 19 to 31.

Chinese Year of the Monkey

2016 will be the Year of the Monkey according to Chinese zodiac.
The Year of the Monkey will start from Feb. 8, 2016 (Chinese New Year) and last to Jan. 27, 2017.

Years of the Monkey: 1920, 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016, 2028.
Lucky Numbers: 1, 7, 8
Lucky Colors: white, gold, blue
Lucky Flowers: chrysanthemum, alliums
Lucky Directions: north, northwest, west

Personality of the Monkey

The monkey is a clever animal. It is usually compared to a smart person, clever and intelligent, especially in their career and wealth. They are lively, flexible, quick-witted and versatile. In addition, their gentleness and honesty bring them an everlasting love life. Although they were born with enviable skills, they still have several shortcomings, such as an impetuous temper and a tendency to look down upon others.

Strengths
enthusiastic, self-assured, sociable, innovative
Weaknesses
jealous, suspicious, cunning, selfish, arrogant

Love Compatibility of the Monkey

Perfect Matches: Ox, Rabbit
They seem like made for each other, having several similarities in personality and life. Both of them can tolerate everything of each other, as long as they have enough space and freedom. Their love lives are full of fun because they have a strong sense of curiosity to get to know each other. Usually, they share common attitudes and opinions about life.

Bad Matches: Tiger, Pig
Holding different values and views, they don’t have many common topics in daily life. It’s difficult for them to communicate with patience and respect. Quarrels and conflicts will bring lots of negative influences to their relationship.

Astrology of colours and its related Days

Sunday: Sunday is the day of Sun and Sun is the significator of soul, ego, empathy, glory, health, energy, father, king, politics, medical science, honor and bravery. Therefore, wearing clothes of colors like bright yellow, light red and orange will be effective in blessing you with all the things mentioned above.

Monday: This is the day of Moon and it is the significator of interest, respect, sleep, happiness, mother, power, wealth, travels and water. For the benefits of all such things you are advised to wear white, light blue, silver and other related colors.

Tuesday: The ruling planet of Tuesday is Mars. The planet Mars signifies power, courage, bravery, competition, land, movable property and younger brother. Wearing red or orange colored clothes will be auspicious.

Wednesday: This is the day of planet Mercury. Mercury is the significator of intelligence, eloquent, logical reasoning, studies, business, precious stones, examination, friends and maternal uncle. It also signifies that a person can indirectly be related to politics. To drive profit from all these things wear clothes of green color.

Thursday: Jupiter is the ruling planet of Thursday. Jupiter signifies wisdom, intelligence, teaching, muscular body, elder brother, pious place, philosophical outlook, teacher, mentor, wealth, bank and son. With the blessings of Jupiter a person also gets inclined to religious activities and recites scriptures. You are advised to wear yellow clothes on this day.

Friday: Friday is the day of Venus which is the significator of husband/wife, marriage, sex, love relationships, music, poetry, perfume, decoration of home, luxury, teamwork, beauty, jewellery, white color, vehicle and the other things related to happiness. In order to achieve these things, you must go for pink, off white and white colored clothes.

Saturday: The ruling planet of Saturday is Saturn. Planet Saturn signifies age, disease, death crisis, insult, poverty, unethical and non religious deeds, foreign language, science and technological studies, agricultural business, iron, oil, service man, robbery, cruel deeds, disability, greed, air, joint pain, rudeness. People also get hospitalized or jailed due to Saturn. Wearing clothes of black and navy blue color will help in avoiding all the malefic effects of Saturn.

Mahalaya Amavasya - 12th October 2015

Amavasya is the no moon day in a month in a traditional Hindu lunar calendar.
Amavasya October 2015 date and time is October 12.
The Amavasya in October 2015 is of great significance as it marks the end of the Pitru Paksha Shradh Period and is known as Mahalaya Amavasya.

The Amavasya Vrat, Snan, dhan, Shradh and Tarpan are performed on  October 12.

This Amavasya is particularly chosen for observing rituals dedicated to departed souls. Anyone can perform Shradh to departed souls on the day. There is no need to look for dates etc and Shradh can be performed to any departed soul.

Traditional Durga Puja rituals commence on October 12.

Navratri festival commence from the next day October 13, 2015.

Mahalaya 2015 will be observed on this Amavasi day of October 12, Monday. The day is highly auspicious as it is Somavati Amavasya.
The last day of Pitru Paksha fortnight, the period sacred for doing rituals and offering presentations to the souls of the departed ancestors, ends on Mahalaya day.
The main offering made on Mahalaya Paksha to ancestors is food. It is believed that the offering made during this period will benefit all the departed souls.

Navratri 2015 - Dates

The nine-day festival of Navratri in Hindu religion is dedicated to the nine manifestations of Goddess Durga. 

Navratri 2015 dates are from October 13 to October 22, 2015. 

Navratri in 2015 September - October dates

Navratri Day 1 – October 13, 2015 – Ghatsthapana - Navratri Begins
Navratri Day 2 – October 14, 2015 – Chandra Darshan (Tithi is repeated)

Navratri Day 2 – October 15, 2015 – Sindoor Tritiya

Navratri Day 3 – October 16, 2015  – Varad Vinayak Chaturthi 

Navratri Day 4 – October 17, 2015 – Upang Lalita Vrat - Lalitha Panchami

Navratri Day 5 – October 18, 2015 – Saraswati Awahan

Navratri Day 6 – October 19, 2015 – Saraswathi Puja (western parts of India)

Navratri Day 7 – October 20, 2015 - Saraswathi Balidan - Maha Lakshmi Puja (western parts of India)

Navratri Day 8 – October 21, 2015 – Mahashtami - Annapoorna Parikrama – Saraswati Visarjan

Navratri Day 9 and 10 – October 22, 2015 - Mahanavami  and Dasami. The tenth day is celebrated as Dasara or Vijaya Dashami.

Pitru Paksha Shraddh Dates in 2015

In Hinduism, Shradh is the rituals performed by relatives for the departed souls of dead ancestors, parents and relatives. Shradh Dates in 2015 as per Hindu calendar followed in India is from September 28 to October 12, 2015. 

September 28, 2015 – Purnima Shradh
September 28, 2015 - Pratipada Shradh
September 29, 2015 – Dwitiya Shradh 

September 30 – Tritiya Shradh

October 1 – Chaturthi Shradh

October 2 – Panchami Shradh

October 3 – Shasti Shradh

October 4 – Saptami Shradh

October 5, 2015 – Ashtami Shradh

October 6 – Navami Shradh

October 7 – Dasami Shradh

October 8 – Ekadashi Shradh

October 9 – Dwadashi Shradh

October 10, 2015 – Trayodashi Shradh

October 11, 2015 – Chaturdashi Shradh
October 12, 2015 – Mahalaya Amavasi – Most important day of Shradh - On this day Shradh can be performed without looking date, tithi, nakshatra etc - it is known as Sarva Pitru Shradh.

Solar Eclipse September 2015 on September 13, 2015

During Solar Eclipses the Moon is directly between the Earth and Sun. During this brief time the Moon can “block out” the Sun. The September 13 solar eclipse is less challenging and future oriented. It presents a great opportunity to realize how relationships have gone bad and how to right the imbalances through positive change. This occurs on September 13, 2015 with the New Moon in Virgo solar eclipse. The eclipses are about creating changes in your life that you want to last. 

When you create wishes and questions that are designed for the big picture, Universe responds. 
And the New Moon solar eclipse in Virgo in September of 2015 will be all about eclipsing the bad, and creating the good.

Some of the changes that come your way will be fated and destined and there’s not a thing you can do about that. What you can do between now and then is prepare yourself to be okay with whatever changes in your life come your way under the solar eclipse. 

With a New Moon in Virgo for this eclipse, organization, responsibility, and attention to details will be very important themes where you will see changes in both love and work. 

Jupiter Movement

Jupiter would make its annual movement into Leo from its exaltation sign of Cancer on the13th July 2015, where it's going to be housed till the 12th August 2016.
The move & particularly the placement of Jupiter in these two sign grids of Cancer & Leo is very interesting. Cancer & Leo are both 'Royal Signs' and Jupiter is super strong in both these signs.
However, the strength of Jupiter is very diverse between both these signs as you would yourself experience during the coming 13 months. Jupiter is a benign planet & Cancer is a very 'giving' sign owned by Moon. 
Due to this comfort, Cancer is the exaltation sign of Jupiter where wealth, comforts & goodness flows. Leo, on the other hand is a 'harsh' sign, owned by Sun. 
Being fiery & egoistic in nature, Leo pushes Jupiter's niceness towards action and gives result oriented approach, when Jupiter land s up in Leo.It is due to this difference in both these signs, we will find that Jupiter, though equally strong in the two signs will give financial progress in a very calm & giving manner in Cancer, while Jupiter in Leo would push you to be a go-getter & achieve great professional progressduring its stay in Leo. 
Further, Jupiter's Leo stay would be even more eventful after December 2015 due to its conjunction with Rahu (the fountainhead of material instincts). 
It could be the time of great professional & material progress without the actual humane-touch associated with Jupiter.

Powerful Jupiter-Rahu Combination

Career & Finances Will Undergo Changes due to this combination! 

As we reach the midpoint of 2015, you should brace ourselves for some major changes and the way you are likely to act, think & behave over the next 2 years. Leading the change in these major changes would be Jupiter that is poised to move from its exaltation sign of Cancer to Leo on 14th July 2015. Leo is a royal sign & a great friend of Jupiter. This will bring in many new challenges & changes that would modify your life in a way that is totally different from how you are looking at life currently. Jupiter would conjunct with Rahu (the Dragon's head) in January 2016 but it would cast influence from end November 2015. In simple words, it means the combination of pure knowledge with deviousness & base instincts. Further Saturn will stop its retrograde motion & turn direct on 2nd August 2015, bringing a method in the madness and clarity of thoughts & actions once again. The changes due to these 3 transit-moves would begin from mid 2015 & run in varying forms till last quarter of 2017. During which, Jupiter would change its sign twice - first into Leo, from July 2015 & then into Virgo, from August 2016. The Leo-transit would see Jupiter & Saturn in a square position from each other, bringing hurdles in world economics as well as general progress in career for us. The Virgo placement of Jupiter however will bring a lot of comfort & progress in our lives. While, the Jupiter - Rahu combination wouldchange our way of thinking to a more material & result oriented method. While this combination could be excellent in terms of creating opportunities at work & in finances, you may find yourself lacking in feeling the human angle in relationships & transactions due to this Yoga.