Thithi in Rameswaram- Death anniversary Ritual:

According to our Hindu calendar, the death day of our ancestors comes year after year. So, if we know the death date and timing, we can predict by taking notes of Maasham( chitra to panguni), either Shukla Paksha (those fortnights when the moon grows) or Krishna paksha (those fortnights when the moon wears out), & thithi (Prathama to chathurdashi or Amavasa or Pournami) and apply into the current year Hindu calender.

If we dont know the death date or timing, then the auspicious day for doing thithi pooja is the day of Amavasya. In Rameswaram, Thithi can be performed on a particular day or in any Amavasya days.

Traditional ways for performing Thithi:

For First year death anniversary, We perform Thithi pooja which includes kalasha pooja homa and vegetable dhana all in pooja mandapa. The procedure is as follows.

1. Ganesha Puja

We do begin with the Ganesh Puja, in order to overcome all the obstacles and to attain Kaarya Siddhi as well as its benefit.

2. Sankalpam

The person performing this puja should recite the Names, Nakshatra and Rashi of his whole family and pray to fulfill their benefits through which the puja is performed.

3. Punyahavachana

In this pooja, we worship Lord Varuna and sprinkle kalasha theertha for the sake of the purity of our mind, body and the puja surroundings.

4. Thithi – Rameswaram method:

For the satisfaction of our ancestors, We first invite them in this pooja, and in the names of our ancestors. we do some “Dhaanas” like Vegetables, Dhothi etc to any Brahmins.

5. Homa:

Navagruha Homa for family welfare and pitru mukthi homa for ancestors will be done.

6. Pinda karma:

Offering Pinda karma makes our ancestors to get satisfied by this pooja process and also through which, we show our gratitude to whole 21 generation of our ancestors.

7. Prasadam:

Pandit ji do give pooja prasadham to the Devotees. At this time, the pooja dakshina is given to Pandit and complete the whole ritual process.

Then we go to Seashore to dissolve all pinda.This is one way of Tradition.

Another way of traditions is to perform thithi at the Seashore of Rameswaram. In Seashore, We do thithi pooja for ancestors with Kalsha pooja, offering vegetables, performing pinda karma with thila- tarpana.

We also do shiva linga pooja for our family well-being.