Popular places for Pind Daan in India….

Hinduism is full of rituals for all occasions of life and death. Death brings with it a set of rituals like Shraddha, bone immersion and Pind Daan. Pind Daan is a ritual to honor the ancestors and facilitate the journey of their souls to salvation.It is believed that Lord Brahma started this practice. The Pinda Daan ceremony is important as it is believed that the soul of the departed is relieved from suffering and in the process, the survivors also find peace. If the Pind Daan ceremony is not performed then the soul of the deceased remains in torment in hell and the surviving family members will not get peace in their life.

Pind Daan is performed at specific places that are considered sacred and auspicious for this purpose. The rituals include traditional puja and chanting of mantras followed by giving of donations to the poor. About 14 places are considered suitable for the Pind Daan ceremony and are also the best places for immersion of ashes.

Pind Daan place in India..

1. Pind Daan in Varanasi –

Varanasi is located on the banks of Ganga, one of the most sacred rivers of India and the city is also considered one of the top pilgrimage destinations in India. This is the upper part of Lord Shiva and Parvati. It is customary to organize Pind Daan ceremony at Ganga Ghat where the local Brahmin Pandit starts the rituals.Which involves chanting of mantras and then Pinda is offered which consists of rice mixed with wheat flour, milk and honey. Seven bodies are offered. One is offered to the soul of the departed person for whom the ceremony is conducted while the rest is offered to the ancestors.

2.Pind Daan in Gaya –

Gaya in Bihar is another important place for Pind Daan. This ceremony is usually held on the banks of river Falgu which is considered to be an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. They take a dip in the sacred river and Brahmins conduct the ceremony on any one of the 48 platforms available here. Rice balls along with wheat flour, oats and dried milk are offered to the ancestors along with chanting of mantras, it is believed that this ritual frees the soul of the departed from suffering and gives him permanent peace.

3.brahma kapal, Pind Daan in Badrinath –

Brahma Kapal Ghat on the banks of Alaknanda is considered auspicious for the Pind Daan ceremony. Devotees take a dip in the holy water and begin the ritual of chanting Brahmin mantras and offering traditional rice balls to the spirits and ancestors of the departed. The soul gets liberation and peace.

4.Pindadan in the contiguous lake –

Sannihit Sarovar is located in Thanesar in Kurukshetra district of Haryana in northern India and this lake is considered to be the confluence of seven sacred rivers. Devotees arrive here for the Pinda Daan ceremony of the departed and take a dip in the water, followed by chanting mantras and offering rice balls called Pindas to the departed soul and ancestors. Organizing the ceremony brings peace to the soul and mental peace to the descendants.

5.Pind Daan in Pushkar –

It is believed that the sacred lake in Pushkar, Rajasthan, according to some people, originated from the navel of Lord Vishnu and according to some, it came into existence when Lord Brahma dropped a lotus flower here. There are 52 ghats and bathing platforms around the lake where devotees usually attend the Pindadan ceremony held during the holy month of Ashwin.

6.Pind Daan at Shaktipeeth Tirtha, Avantika –

Located on the banks of Shipra River near Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh, Avantika is one of the favorite places for the Pind Daan ritual performed in the month of Ashwin. A priest chants mantras and offers rice tablets mixed with wheat flour, milk and honey to the departed soul. The soul is considered free and attains salvation.

7.Pind Daan in Mathura –

Mathura is a holy pilgrimage city and one of the favorite places for Pind Daan ceremonies. These are usually held at Vishranthi Tirtha, Bodhini Tirtha or Vayu Tirtha on the banks of river Yamuna. Seven pindas or rice balls are prepared with wheat flour, honey and milk and offered with the chanting of mantras for the peace of the souls of the deceased and ancestors. It is the moral duty of every Hindu to honor the dead family members and perform Pind Daan to liberate and give peace to the soul.

8.Pind Daan in Ayodhya –

Ram Janmabhoomi is also a pilgrimage site and one of the most favorite sites for Pind Daan ceremonies. On the banks of the sacred Saryu river is the Bhat Kund where Hindus fulfill their obligation of conducting rituals presided over by a Brahmin priest. As in other places, seven lumps of rice are prepared and offered to the spirits. Sesame seeds, milk, oats and honey are mixed in the rice. The family first takes a dip in the river and then sits for the ritual after which they give donations to the poor and then return home.

9.Pind Daan in Sidhpur, Gujarat –

Siddhpur in Gujarat is a pilgrimage place with many temples and ashrams. Bindu Lake is considered sacred as it was formed by the tears of Lord Vishnu. This city is also considered sacred because it is situated on the banks of the sacred Saraswati river which is now extinct. The Pindadan ritual is conducted on the banks of Bindu Sarovar and Kapil Muni Ashram is the preferred place.

10.Pind Daan in Prayagraj –

Prayagraj is one of the most sacred pilgrimage sites in India. It is the Triveni Sangam or the confluence of three holy rivers, Saraswati, Yamuna and Ganga and Sangam is the place where the Pind Daan ceremony is held in Prayagraj. By simply taking a bath in the water here, sins are washed away and the soul is freed from the cycle of birth and death. The Pind Daan ceremony held here benefits the soul of the departed family member.

11.Pind Daan in Puri –

Puri in Orissa is known for the Jagannath Temple and the annual Rath Yatra. Puri is situated on the banks of Mahanadi and Bhargavi rivers and hence, the Sangam is considered sacred and the ideal place for the Pind Daan ceremony. Jagannath Puri is also important because it is one of the major Char Dham pilgrimage sites. Therefore, in every respect, the respect for the departed family done here By offering Pind Daan for the soul of the member, the family members get virtue and the soul gets peace. Brahmins are employed for the ceremony and a time is fixed, usually early morning. The family members prepare and keep the traditional Prasad of seven rice balls ready and the priest offers the Prasad while chanting mantras. Then the family members donate to the poor according to their capacity and return home after completing their responsibilities.

12.Pind Daan in Dwarka –

Like Jagannath Puri, Dwarka is also one of the major Char Dham pilgrimage sites. The land of Lord Krishna is more famous for the Dwarkadhish temple, but it is also important as a place for the Pind Daan ceremony. The Gomti River falls into the sea from the banks of the temple and is believed to be It is a tributary of Ganga and hence sacred. Gomti Ghat is the place where the Pind Daan ceremony is performed by the family of the deceased. As in other places, a Brahmin priest presides over the ceremonies, chanting mantras while offering rice balls to the spirit of the deceased and the ancestors.

13.Pind Daan in Haridwar –

Haridwar is one of the most sacred pilgrimage sites in India. It is situated on the banks of the Ganges and the evening aarti is a beautiful, joyful experience. Bathing in the Ganga here washes away all sins and if someone’s last rites are performed here, it is a common belief that his soul goes to heaven. If the Pind Daan ceremony is held here, the soul of the departed gets permanent peace and the surviving family members also get happiness.

14.Pinddaan in Ujjain –

Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh is a city of temples and one of the ideal places for Pind Daan ceremony. The festival is held on the banks of the Shipra River that flows through the city. The holy month of Ashwin is when Hindus flock to the city of Ujjain in thousands for the sacred Pind Daan ceremony. This ceremony is usually held at Siddhavat Temple or Ram Ghat.

Pind Daan is an important ritual and is mandatory in cases of natural death. This becomes even more necessary in cases of unnatural deaths such as accidents when it is believed that the soul of the deceased is tormented until the ceremony is performed.🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏