Thousands pay obeisance to ancestors

According to the Tamil calendar year, Aadi Amavasya, the new moon occurring in the Tamil month of Aadi is considered as a highly auspicious day for performing Pithru Pooja (rituals for the ancestors). The day is very significant in Rameswaram, where the devout Hindu people congregate at the sea shore and perform rituals to their forefathers. Special poojas were performed to the president deity Lord Ramanatha Swamy at the Sri Ramanatha Swamy Temple.

Official sources said over three lakh people offered worship after paying obeisance to their forefathers. The temple was opened at 3 am and remained open till 8.30 pm for the convenience of the devotees. Similarly, a large number of people gathered at sacred places like Dhanushkodi, Muhuntharayarchatram, Sethukarai and Devipattinam in Ramanathapuram district. 

Reports said thousands of people thronged the Triveni Sangamam in Kanniyakumari, Thiruchendur, water bodies, ghats of various rivers to perform rituals.  At the famous Amma Mandapam Bathing Ghats, on the banks of River Cauvery near Srirangam, thousands of people flocked to perform the ritualistic homage to their forefathers.