Lakhs pay obeisance to ancestors on Mahalaya Amavasya in TN

Lakhs of people on Saturday paid obeisance to their forebears and performed "tarpanam" at various sacred ghats and water bodies across Tamil Nadu on the occasion of "Mahalaya Amavasya."

While all new moon days were reserved for remembering the forefathers, the Mahalaya Amavasya that falls in the Tamil month of "Purattasi" is considered as a highly auspicious day for performing oblations to the ancestors.

Cooked rice, fruits, vegetables and black sesame seeds were offered to the departed souls as part of the Tarpana rituals.

Mahalaya Amavasya was observed with great reverence at the holy Island of Rameswaram.

Over three lakh people from various parts of the country thronged "Agni Theertha Kadarkarai" (seashore) and propitiated the departed souls on the occasion.

Special poojas were performed at the renowned Sri Ramanatha Swamy Temple.  The idols of Lord Shiva, Lord Rama and Goddess Sita were taken in a traditional procession from the temple to the sea, where special rituals were performed to the deities.

Reports reaching here said, thousands of people thronged the banks of River Cauvery at religiously significant Ammamandapam bathing ghats at Srirangam and paid their oblations.

Hundreds of people congregated the seashore at the famous Poompuhar in Nagapattinam district since early in the morning and took a holy dip at the confluence of River Cauvery with the sea.

The Reports also said the day was observed with reverence and solemn by devout at various water bodies across the State.