With Aadi Amavasya, an important new moon day dedicated to the worship of ancestors, approaching, parents and students in Ramanathapuram district, Tamil Nadu, are eagerly waiting to see if a local holiday will be declared. (News18 Tamil)

In places such as Rameswaram, Devipattinam, and Sethukarai, it is a long-standing tradition to perform tithi and tarpan rituals for ancestors on new moon days. Priests conduct these rituals, and Aadi Amavasya is regarded as the most significant among them. (News18 Tamil)

On this day, lakhs of devotees from across Tamil Nadu and neighboring states visit Agni Theertham in Rameswaram to offer prayers to their ancestors. Many continue their pilgrimage to Devipattinam and Sethukarai. (News18 Tamil)

Given the massive influx of devotees, district police enforce traffic diversions to manage congestion. These disruptions can cause difficulties for school and college students, and so the district administration usually declares a local holiday on Aadi Amavasya. (News18 Tamil)

This year, Aadi Amavasya falls on Thursday, July 24. With large crowds expected, parents and students are hopeful that district authorities will declare a holiday. Many visiting families plan to return to their hometowns, which may require them to take Friday off as well, creating the possibility of a four-day weekend from Thursday to Sunday. (News18 Tamil)