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{{Short description|Hindu observance}}
{{Infobox holiday
| type          = Hindu
| holiday_name  = Bhimana Amavasya
| observedby    = [[Hindus]]
| celebrations  = [[Vrata|Vratam]], rituals, [[pujas]]
| date          = New moon day (Amavasya) of [[Ashadha]]
| litcolor      = 
| scheduling    = 
| month         = 
| significance  = Bhima's victory over Bakasura<br>Shiva's acceptance of Parvati as his wife
| frequency     = Annual
| observances   = Fasting, Pujas
| image         = 
| caption       = 
| date2022      = July 28
}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2019}}

'''Bhimana Amavasya''' ({{Langx|sa|भीमना अमावस्या|lit=New moon day of Bhima|translit=Bhīmana Amāvasyā}}) is a [[Hinduism|Hindu]] occasion that is observed in the state of [[Karnataka]] It is celebrated on the [[new moon]] day (''[[amavasya]]'') of the ''[[Ashadha]]'' month of the [[Hindu calendar]].<ref>''A handbook of Karnataka'' by S. R. Honnalingaiah, Karnakataka Gazetteer Dept., Govt. of Karnataka, 2001.</ref>
[[File:Shiva's wedding Nataraja Temple at Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu 2017.jpg|thumb|260x260px|Shiva marries Parvati, Chidambaram.]]

== Significance ==
The [[amavasya]], as well as the fortnight containing the new-moon, is considered auspicious by Hindus. They believe that during this period, their offerings reach their [[Pitrs|forefathers]], and in return, offerors are blessed. It signifies the beginning of auspicious period, and many [[Puja (Hinduism)|pujas]] are performed towards various Hindu deities, seeking their blessings.

The observance is primarily associated with [[Bhima]], one of the five protagonists of the [[Mahabharata]]. The Bhimana Amavasya is regarded to be Bhima's birthday, as well as the day he slew the wicked [[Bakasura]], thereby saving his [[Brahmin]] hosts from being eaten by the [[rakshasa]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Srinivas |first=Smriti |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-JXDD0gcHgoC&dq=bhima+amavasya&pg=PA145 |title=Landscapes of Urban Memory: The Sacred and the Civic in India's High-tech City |date=2004 |publisher=Orient Longman |isbn=978-81-250-2254-1 |pages=145 |language=en}}</ref>

In Karnataka, the last day of [[Ashadha]] is marked as the Bhimana Amavasya. The [[Shaivism|Shaivas]] of this region believe that on this day, [[Shiva]], impressed by [[Parvati|Parvati's]] devotion towards him, accepted her as his wife. It is believed if women perform a [[vrata]], thereby abstaining from consuming food on this day, and offer prayers to Shiva, Parvati would bless them by seeking a virtuous husband for unmarried women, while married women receive long life, success, and happiness for their husbands. Sisters also pray for the well-being of their brothers.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Jagannathan |first=Maithily |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xcIrkKUJH9QC&dq=bhima+amavasya&pg=PA92 |title=South Indian Hindu Festivals and Traditions |date=2005 |publisher=Abhinav Publications |isbn=978-81-7017-415-8 |pages=92 |language=en}}</ref> [[Murti|Murtis]] of Shiva and Parvati are made using red mud clay, dried and decorated with ash and vermilion. They are also sometimes made of ''panchaloha'' (five materials – gold, silver, copper, bronze, and zinc).<ref>{{Cite book |last=Hatcher |first=Brian A. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IdeoCgAAQBAJ&dq=bhimana+amavasya+parvati&pg=PA22 |title=Hinduism in the Modern World |date=2015-10-05 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-135-04631-6 |pages=22 |language=en}}</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Hindu festivals]]
[[Category:Festivals in Karnataka]]
[[Category:Religious festivals in India]]