Some households perform tharpanam for twelve months in addition to ashtaka-anvashtaka tharpanam; some households perform tharpanam only for four months of the year citing they follow the practice of their household elders; please clarify.

Performance of 12 maasa pravesha tharpanam falls under the category of superior ritualistic practice; performance of 4 maasa pravesha tharpanam comes under the mediocre/middling category of ordinary ritualistic practice; one does this as per one’s convenience; there is no harm.