Hundreds of thousands of devotees on Friday took a holy dip in the Bay of Bengal at various places in Tamil Nadu including Rameswaram on the auspicious occasion of 'Thai Amavasai' (new moon day in the Tamil month 'Thai').

Pilgrims thronged the pilgrim town of Rameswaram to pay obeisance to their forefathers.

There was a long queue for taking bath in the 26 holy water sites in and outside the famous Sri Ramanathaswamy temple here, officials said.

Thousands of pilgrims gathered at Tiruppullani sea coast in Ramanathapuram district to pray for the souls of forefathers.

Ramanathapuram district authorities had made arrangements in view of a large number of devotees visiting the temple town and security was stepped up.

People thronged Kodiakarai, Vedaranyam and Poompuhar in Nagapattinam district to take a holy dip the Bay of Bengal.

Legend has it that Saint Agathiyar got a darshan of Lord Shiva at Vedaranyeshwarar Temple in Vedaranyam on 'ThaiAmavasai' day after he took a holy dip in the Bay of Bengal.

People took a dip at Kaveripoompattinam near Poompuhar where river Cauvery meets the Bay of Bengal, as it is believed that it would free one from all sins committed.

At Ananthamangalam near Porayar, thousands of devotees thronged Lord Hanuman temple in connection withThaiAmavasai, which is considered an auspicious day to pray for the souls of forefathers.

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