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Amavasya Tharpanam 2027: Dates and Ghats for Ancestor Rites
On Amavasya, the new moon day, many Hindu families offer tharpanam to their ancestors with sesame and water at a sea or river ghat. Devotees believe Thai, Aadi and Mahalaya Amavasya matter most, so the ghats fill from before dawn on those days.
What happens
- Families take a holy dip in the sea, the river or the temple theerthams early in the morning.
- A priest or an elder leads tharpanam, offering water mixed with black sesame seeds in memory of the ancestors.
- Many families also offer pinda, small balls of cooked rice, to the ancestors.
- Afterwards families pray at a nearby temple. Some feed the poor, and many fast for the day.
Sources: dtnext.in, deccanchronicle.com, news.webindia123.com · checked 30 Oct 2026
Where families go
- Timings and guide
Ramanathaswamy Temple
Rameswaram
Families from Tamil Nadu and neighbouring states bathe at Agni Theertham beach and in the temple's 22 theerthams, then offer tharpanam on Amavasya.
Timings and guideSrirangam Ranganathaswamy
Srirangam
At Srirangam, families bathe and offer tharpanam at the Amma Mandapam ghat on the Kaveri, then visit the temple.
Timings and guideSrirangapatna Ranganathaswamy Temple
Srirangapatna
On Mahalaya Amavasya, families offer pinda and tila tarpana at the Kaveri ghats of Srirangapatna, including Paschimavahini and Gosai Ghat.
Other places families use
- Triveni Sangamam, Kanyakumari (Tamil Nadu): Devotees gather at the meeting of the three seas from about 4 am on Aadi Amavasya for ancestor rites.
- Papanasanathar Temple ghats, Thamirabarani river, Papanasam (Tirunelveli district) (Tamil Nadu): The river ghats at Papanasam are among the Thamirabarani steps families use for Aadi Amavasya rites.
- Muktheeswarar Temple, Sethalapathy (Thilatharpanapuri), Tiruvarur district (Tamil Nadu): Families offer pinda for ancestors here, and tradition holds that every day at this temple counts as Amavasya.
- Aluva Manappuram, Aluva (Ernakulam district) (Kerala): The Periyar riverbank is one of Kerala's largest Karkidaka Vavu bali centres, with temporary platforms set up for the day.
- Sree Parasurama Swamy Temple, Thiruvallam (Thiruvananthapuram) (Kerala): A major Vavu bali centre near Thiruvananthapuram, where the devaswom sells advance slots for the rites.
Sources: dtnext.in, tntemplesproject.in, onmanorama.com, onmanorama.com · checked 30 Oct 2026
When to go
Families can offer tharpanam on any Amavasya. Thai, Aadi (Karkidaka Vavu in Kerala) and Mahalaya Amavasya, the last day of Pitru Paksha, draw thousands to the ghats.
| Date | What | Details |
|---|---|---|
| 8 Nov 2026Sun | Amavasya, November 2026 | The Amavasya tithi runs from 11:27 am on 8 November to 12:31 pm on 9 November (New Delhi times), so some calendars give 9 November. |
| 8 Dec 2026Tue | Amavasya, December 2026 | The Amavasya tithi runs from 4:12 am on 8 December to 6:21 am on 9 December (New Delhi times). |
| 7 Jan 2027Thu | Amavasya, January 2027 | The Amavasya tithi runs from 11:13 pm on 6 January to 1:53 am on 8 January (New Delhi times). |
| 6 Feb 2027Sat | Thai Amavasya 2027 | Drik Panchang gives 6 February, with the tithi from 7:05 pm on 5 February to 9:25 pm on 6 February (New Delhi times). |
| 7 Mar 2027Sun | Amavasya, March 2027 | The tithi runs from 1:46 pm on 7 March to 2:58 pm on 8 March (New Delhi times); calendars list either day. |
| 2 Aug 2027Mon | Aadi Amavasya 2027 | The tithi runs from 7:19 pm on 1 August to 3:34 pm on 2 August (New Delhi times). |
| 2 Aug 2027Mon | Karkidaka Vavu 2027 (Kerala) | Kerala's Vavu bali day falls on the Amavasya of the Malayalam month Karkidakam, which in 2027 is 2 August. |
| 29 Sep 2027Wed | Mahalaya Amavasya 2027 | Drik Panchang gives the Mahalaya (Sarva Pitru) shraddha day as 29 September; the Amavasya at sunrise is 30 September. |
Sources: deccanchronicle.com, drikpanchang.com, drikpanchang.com, drikpanchang.com, hindutone.com, drikpanchang.com, drikpanchang.com, drikpanchang.com · checked 30 Oct 2026
Before you go
- RitualPanchangams can differ by a day, and families follow their own tradition for which day to use. Confirm the date with your family priest or panchangam before you travel.
- Good to knowStart early and expect crowds. In 2026, Kerala Vavu rites began at 2 am and Kanyakumari crowds gathered from about 4 am.
- SafetyRiver currents can stay strong even when water levels are controlled. Enter the water only where and when the authorities allow.
- BookingIn 2026 the Travancore Devaswom Board sold advance 50-minute slots for Vavu bali at Thiruvallam online, with Aadhaar details and a photo, and at its counters. Not confirmed on an official page; check with the devaswom.
Rituals, fees and timings are set by each temple. Where the temple sells a seva or ticket, book it only on its official channel.
Sources: hindutone.com, onmanorama.com, onmanorama.com · checked 30 Oct 2026
Questions Families Ask
When is Mahalaya Amavasya 2027?
Drik Panchang gives Wednesday 29 September 2027 for the shraddha; the Amavasya at sunrise is 30 September, and some calendars list that day. Confirm with your family priest or panchangam.
When is Thai Amavasya 2027?
Saturday 6 February 2027 by Indian calculations. Drik Panchang shows 5 February for locations outside India, so confirm with your family priest or panchangam.
When are Aadi Amavasya and Karkidaka Vavu in 2027?
Both fall on Monday 2 August 2027, the same Amavasya. Kerala's Vavu date is derived from the Malayalam calendar, so confirm it with the devaswom.
Where can I do Amavasya tharpanam?
Popular ghats include Agni Theertham at Rameswaram, Amma Mandapam at Srirangam, Triveni Sangamam at Kanyakumari, the Kaveri ghats at Srirangapatna, and in Kerala, Aluva Manappuram and Thiruvallam.
What is Karkidaka Vavu bali?
It is the offering Kerala families make to their ancestors on the Amavasya of Karkidakam, at temples and river or sea ghats such as Aluva Manappuram and Thiruvallam.
Plan your trip for Amavasya tharpanam
Opens with this temple already added. See each day with darshan hours, drive times and rough costs.
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