Thithi: First-Year and Yearly Death Anniversary Rites

What happens

1. In the first year, a rite is held every month on the tithi of death.
2. The first annual shraddha comes after one full year from the death. It follows the yearly rite, with extra gifts and a closing ceremony.
3. After that, the family holds the shraddha every year on the death anniversary by the Hindu calendar. The person performing it (the karta) offers rice balls (pinda) to the ancestors.
4. The rite can be held at home, at a temple or on a river ghat.

Sources: vedadhara.com, en.wikipedia.org · checked 30 Oct 2026

Where families go

• 

  Ramanathaswamy Temple

  Rameswaram

  A Tamil devotional guide calls Rameswaram the foremost place for tharpanam, and families bathe at Agni Theertham before the rites.

  Timings and guide
• 

  Srirangam Ranganathaswamy

  Srirangam

  Families offer tharpanam at the Amma Mandapam ghat on the Kaveri, then pray at the Ranganathaswamy temple.

  Timings and guide

Other places families use

• Amma Mandapam ghat, Srirangam (Tiruchi) (Tamil Nadu): Thousands bathe in the Kaveri and offer tharpanam here on Amavasya days, then pray at Ranganathaswamy and nearby temples.
• Pushpa Mandapam ghat, Kaveri, Thiruvaiyaru (Thanjavur district) (Tamil Nadu): Families bathe at this Kaveri ghat and offer thithi and tharpanam for their ancestors, with big crowds on Thai Amavasya.
• Muktheeswarar Temple, Sethalapathy (Thilatharpanapuri) (Tamil Nadu): Families who cannot hold the rite on the exact tithi come here, since tradition holds every day equals Amavasya.

Sources: news.webindia123.com, temple.dinamalar.com, tntemplesproject.in · checked 30 Oct 2026

When to go

Each year on the tithi of death in the same month. Tamil families usually count the Tamil (solar) month, while much of India counts the lunar month, so the two dates can differ.

Sources: advaita-vedanta.org · checked 30 Oct 2026

Before you go

• RitualFind the tithi in a panchangam, or ask your family priest. A tithi can begin or end during the day, so local sunrise and panchangam timings decide the date.
• RitualIf the tithi of death is not known, families often hold the shraddha on Mahalaya (Sarva Pitru) Amavasya, the last day of Pitru Paksha.
• Good to knowIn the first year some traditions add rites fixed by day count, such as one between the 28th and 30th day. The priest sets these dates.
• Good to knowA Tamil devotional guide names Rameswaram the foremost place for tharpanam on thithi days. Families bathe at Agni Theertham, then in the temple's 22 theerthams.

• OfficialRamanathaswamy Temple, Rameswaram, official site (HR&CE)
• OfficialRanganathaswamy Temple, Srirangam, official site (HR&CE)

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: freepressjournal.in, vedadhara.com, maalaimalar.com · checked 30 Oct 2026