Śrāddha · Piṇḍa Dāna
Ancestral ritesAnnual or Pitru Paksha ancestral rites - arranged with the right vidhi for your tradition and lineage.
- Duration
- 2 to 3 hours
- Price
- ₹3,400 to ₹4,500
- Languages
- Hindi, English, Sanskrit mantras
What is Śrāddha · Piṇḍa Dāna?
Shraddha is the rite in which a family honours its departed ancestors with offerings of food, water and prayer. Pind daan is the offering of rice balls (pinda) made with rice, barley flour and black sesame, along with tarpan, the offering of water and sesame, to nourish and bring peace to the ancestors.
It is performed annually on the tithi of death, during Pitru Paksha, and on occasions such as Amavasya. Families perform it with great respect, and a pandit leads the sankalp, the mantras and the offerings so that the vidhi is correct for your lineage.
When should you perform it?
- On the death anniversary tithi (the lunar day, not the calendar date) each year
- During Pitru Paksha, the 16-day period in the dark fortnight of Bhadrapada
- On Sarva Pitru Amavasya, when ancestors can be honoured together
- At a tirtha such as Gaya, Haridwar or Prayagraj, or at home, depending on your family custom
What is included
- Sankalp with the family's gotra and the ancestors' names
- Pind daan, tarpan and the related offerings with the correct mantras
- Guidance on the feeding of Brahmins and the offerings to crows, cows and dogs, as per custom
- A pandit matched to your tradition and language
- Muhurat guidance for the right date and time
- A dedicated contact from confirmation to the day itself
Samagri
Choose the samagri option in the booking panel. With samagri, we source and bring the full list. If you arrange it yourself, you get a checklist from us. Key items include:
- Kusha grass and black sesame
- Rice, barley flour and honey for the pinda
- Ghee, tulsi leaves and white flowers
- Gangajal and clean water for tarpan
- Cloth and dakshina for the Brahmin
- Fruits, sweets and food for the offerings
- Incense and diyas
Prefer the kit at your door before the pooja? Order the samagri kit
What we need from your family
- The names and gotra of the ancestors, and the tithi of death where known
- The person performing the rite (traditionally a son or male descendant, though families today follow their own custom, including daughters)
- A clean, quiet space, and freshly prepared satvik food for the offerings
- Time and a calm mind; the rite is solemn, and the family should be ready to participate
Your pandit
Every pandit on SanskarSetu is vetted before joining. Once you book, we match one to your family's tradition and share their details with you.
- Background and training checked before joining the platform
- Matched to your region, sampradaya and language
- Assigned within 24 hours of your booking
- Arrives with the vidhi prepared and explains each step as it is performed
Mantras are recited in Sanskrit and explained in Hindi or English as you prefer. If your family follows a regional tradition, tell us when you book and we match a pandit who knows it, subject to availability.
Questions
How should we arrange the samagri?
Pick whichever suits you - the price updates either way. Your pandit performs the same ceremony, start to finish.
Your total
₹4,500
Not sure this is the right ceremony?
Speak with an Āchārya. They can tell you which ceremony suits the occasion and when to hold it.