The cycle of the waning moon in the month of Puratasi or Aswayuja (September-October) is known as the Mahalaya Paksha or the fortnight specially sacred for offering oblations to the departed ancestors. The last day of this period, the new moon day, Mahalya Amavasya is considered as the most important day in the year for performing obsequies and rites to departed souls.

According to hindu mythology, the renowned hero of the Mahabharata, Karna, after his death ascended to the higher worlds. Here the great charity and punyas he had done here bore fruit and were returned to him hundredfold. But the reward was all in gold and silver and precious stones; there was no food, as he had not done any food-offerings ! Therefore He prayed to the god of death and received the boon of going back to the earth for fourteen days, to make up for this deficiency.

For fourteen days, he fed Brahmins and the poor, and offered oblations of water. On his return to the higher regions, he had food in plenty. It is these fourteen days that are commemorated in the Mahalaya Paksha. Due to the grace of Yama, the god of death, it was thus ordained that offerings made during this period benefit all the departed souls, whether they are connected to you or not.

In Tiruvannamalai, plenty of food distribution and sadhu feeding take place during this time mostly on the girivalam road. Also there takes place a lot of brahmin feeding and rites to departed souls on the banks of the Isanya theertham which is near the cremation grounds at the end of town. Moreover, on the fifteenth day which is the night of Mahalya Amavasya ,the festival of Navarathri commences and the Goddess Parvathi is brought outside in procession and installed in a special pavilion where she is worshipped for the next nine days.

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