Festivals
Date
Aadi Amavasai
Relevant Timings
Aparahna Muhurat
12 Aug, 2:54 pm – 5:37 pm, 12 Aug
Duration - 02 Hours 42 Mins
About
Aadi Amavasai is a highly significant day for ancestor worship in Tamil Nadu, marking the first Amavasya of the Dakshinayana period when the Sun is in Karka (Cancer).
Significance:
Dakshinayana is considered the nighttime of the Devas and is highly conducive for honoring the Pitrus (ancestors). Performing tarpanam on Aadi Amavasai is believed to bring peace to departed souls and secure their blessings for the family's well-being.
Rituals & Puja Vidhi:
1. Holy Dip: Devotees bathe in sacred rivers, seas (like at Rameswaram or Kanyakumari), or temple tanks. 2. Pitru Tarpanam: Offering oblations of water mixed with black sesame seeds to the ancestors, usually by a priest. 3. Fasting: Observing a strict fast until the tarpanam is completed. 4. Annadanam: Offering food to the needy and to crows, which are considered messengers of the Pitrus.