<span style="color: #222222;">In Kerala, thousands of devotees gathered at river banks, beaches and other water bodies across the state  early this morning to perform pithrutharpan rituals, paying obeisance to their forefathers on Karkidaka Vavu.<br />''<br />''Devotees gathered on the banks of river Periyar in Aluva, to perform the rituals. Similar rituals were held at Thirunelli, Thirunavaya, Thiruvallam, Varkala and several other places. Special pujas and prayers were also performed at temples across the state.<br />''<br />''The ritual, performed on Amavasi day in the month of Karkkidakam is thought to bring peace and eternal rest to the departed souls.<br />''Pithrutharpans were performed in households as well.</span><br />