Rameswaram in south Tamil Nadu, witnessed a surge of devotees on Sunday, as thousands gathered at the sacred Agni Theertham to perform rituals and ancestral offerings in observance of Mahalaya Amavasya. From the early hours of the day, men, women and children arrived at the seashore adjoining the Ramanathaswamy temple, carrying puja materials and offerings. As part of the day's observances, devotees also visited the 22 sacred wells inside the Ramanathaswamy temple complex. According to tradition, rituals performed on this day hold manifold significance, carrying greater merit than those performed on other new moon days. The confluence of the sacred sea, temple rituals, and ancestral worship made Rameswaram a hub of spiritual fervor on this day.