Dharmapuri (Tamil Nadu) [India], July 24 (ANI): On the occasion of Aadi Amavasai, which falls during the Tamil month of Aadi (mid-July to mid-August), thousands of devotees gathered at the banks of the Kaveri River in Hogenakkal, Dharmapuri district, from the early hours of the morning to perform ancestral rites.
Chanting sacred mantras, devotees offered Thithi—ritual offerings in remembrance of their ancestors—seeking to remove afflictions from their families and praying for peace and prosperity. They paid homage by offering prayers and food in the flowing river and also worshipped the Sun God as part of the spiritual observances.
Pilgrims from across Tamil Nadu and neighboring Karnataka congregated at the site, transforming the riverbank into a vibrant spiritual gathering that echoed the atmosphere of a grand festival.
Aadi Amavasai, observed on the new moon day of the Tamil month of Aadi, holds great religious and spiritual significance for Tamil Hindus. It is considered one of the three most auspicious new moon days for performing Pitru Tarpanam—ancestral rituals meant to honor and seek blessings from departed forefathers.
According to Tamil tradition, the Aadi month is viewed as a time of power and spiritual intensity. Mythologically, it is believed that during the legendary 18th battle between good and evil, swords soaked in the blood of slain demons were washed in the Kaveri River on this day, enhancing its sacredness.
The observance of Aadi Amavasai has been a longstanding cultural and religious tradition among Tamils, practiced for thousands of years. Devotees typically visit sacred rivers like the Kaveri to offer food, water, and prayers, believing that such rituals bring peace to their ancestors and mental clarity to the living.
Hindus also believe that fasting on the new moon day of each month and performing special pujas for the souls of the departed contribute to spiritual upliftment. Notably, the holy periods of Uttarayana (encompassing the Tamil months of Thai and Masi) and Dakshinayana (covering the months of Aadi and Purattasi) are considered especially sacred.
It is also widely believed that performing pujas for one’s parents during the months of Thai and Aadi, for relatives during Masi, and for all souls—including strangers—during Purattasi brings profound spiritual merit.
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