Amavasya Tharpanam

The New Moon Day
has a special note
where dead are remembered.

It is a ritual
which recalls the ancestors
to seek their blessing

It is being followed
with a short recitation
invoking the Almighty.

The brahmin conducts the puja
he calls out the names of the ancestors
a lineage diligently recalled.

The names of sacred rivers are pronounced
while raw rice and sesame are offered
water being sprinkled liberally on them.

The amavasya or New Moon Day
is held with such high esteem
a belief that is age-old

The brahmin is paid for the ritual
which every Hindu feels
goes to their forefathers

It is a practice in India
more or less similar to the activity
of the Thanks giving Day