Monday, October 15, 2012

Today is Pettara / Peddala / Pitru Amavasya – Another important day to pay homage to our ancestors.


Today is Peddala Amavasya, more popularly known as Pettara Amavasya in Telangana, Pitru Amavasya in North India, and as Mahalaya Amavasya in West Bengal. It is a very significant day throughout the country, ancestors, departed parents and family members are remembered and worshipped, their blessings are sought and religious and traditional food offerings are made to them.
Amavasya is New Moon Day. And Peddala Amavasya; that is today, is the New Moon Day of Bhadrapada Masam which is the last day of the Hindu lunar month called Bhadrapada.

The above photographs of me, waist-deep in the Ganges at Haridwar, are of a ritual called Tharpanam. On this day, people go to holy rivers like Godavari and Krishna in Telangana State and Andhra Pradesh and the Ganges in the North and perform rituals for the departed family members and bathe in the holy river. Tharpanam is the offering of water to the departed. 

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