Popularly known as Gatari, Gatari Amavasya is a ritual or regional festival celebrated in Maharashtra. Gatari Amavas falls on the Ashadh Amavasya (full moon day during Ashadh maas). In 2009, the date of Gatari Amavas is July 22, Wednesday. On this day, Sampoorn Surya Grahan (Total Solar Eclipse) will take place.

Gatari – Regional Festival of Maharashtra:

Gatari is a celebration of joy and happiness. Ashadh Amavas is the last day of Ashad month and next day of it marks the holy Shravan month. To celebrate the day with fun, people of Maharashtra enjoy by eating non-vegetarian food. Gatar means drain or sewage in Marati language.

Gatari marks the farewell of bad food habits and invites the Shravan, the holy month, which will be spent with Ekabukhth and Nakabhukth (Fasting during day or night or taking food for a single time in a day).

Gatari Amavasya is also observed as Bheemana Amavasya in Karnataka and Chukkala Amavasya in Andhra Pradesh. On Ashad Amavasya, Deepa Pooja is observed. This Amavasy is very auspicious for Pithru Tharpan and Pinda Pradhan to ancestors. Jyotir Bheemeshwar Vrata and Pathi Sanjivani Vrata is observed on Bheemana Amavasy day in Karnataka. Telugu people observe Ashada Amavasya as Chukkala Amavasya vratham.

Ashada Amavasya is celebrated as Hariyali Amavas in Gujarat. In other states like Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, on this Sawan Amavasya, Hariyali Amavasya is celebrated. Fairs are organised in Udaipur, Rajsamand and some more towns of Rajasthan on Hariyali Amavasya.

Deepa Puja is an auspicious observance to perform on Ashada Amavasya day. In 2009, the date of Deepa Puja or Diya Pooja is July 22, Wednesday. On the day of Deepa Puja, people clean and decorate their houses. Devotees clean all diyas (deepas) they had in house and decorate them with colours. They clean and sanctify a table and decorate it with rangoli (kolam) designs or patterns and keep all the diyas on the table. Then, they lit the diyas and perform puja.

Deepa Puja is dedicated to the one’s Ishta Devata (Favorite God) and to Pancha Bhootas (five primordial elements – Air, Water, Fire, Sky and the Earth). Some devotees dedicate Deepa Puja or the Deepa Jyothi (sacred flame) to the Mother Goddesses – Goddess Lakshmi, Goddess Parvati and Goddess Saraswati.

In the evening of Deepa puja day, all the diyas are lit once again and kept around the house just like Diwali Puja (Deepavali Pooja). People believe that the sparkling light of diyas drives out all the evil and bad powers by which they are suffered and welcomes new brightness into their life. They also believe that Deepa Puja provides them Asta Aishwarayas (8 types of wealth).

Just after the day of Deepa Puja (Ashada Amavasya), the holy month of Sawan begins. In 2009, Deepa Puja is very significant as on this day, Sampoorna Surya Grahan will take place.