Mahalaya Ammavasai Tharpanam

According to Hindu Mythology, " Ammavasai" (no moon day) holds a lot of significance. On this particular day, the moon is not completely visible. Mahalaya Ammavasai is the name of the one new moon day that occurs each year. Sarva Pitru Ammavasai, Pitru Moksha Ammavasai, and Pitru Ammavasai are other names for Mahalaya Ammavasai. The festival of Dussehra begins on the Mahalaya Amavasya new moon day. This particular day is reserved for giving an offering in thanks to all the ancestors from prior generations who have made contributions to our way of living. During this festival lakhs of devotees throng at the banks of the River Kaveri, to offer the “Tharpanam” - an offering made to the divine entities. The Tharpanam includes water, sesame seeds, along with Dharba grass. The devotees also perform a unique ceremony of eating “Mann Soru”(eating boiled rice on the bare floor) in a vow to pray for good health. Every year on the occasion of Mahalaya Ammavasai lakhs of devotees gather to offer “Tharpanam” into the flowing water of River Kaveri, in remembrance of their ancestors.