- By Kashish Rai
- Thu, 28 Sep 2023 12:58 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Pitru Paksha 2023: The sacred days to rever the ancestors are known as Pitru Paksha. It is believed that the ancestors visit earth during the holy Pitru Paksha period and accept the offerings of food and water. People pay respect to and remember their departed loved ones. This sanctified period starts on the Krishna Paksha's Purnima Tithi in the month of Bhadrapada. The sixteen-day Pitru Paksha festival is marked by a number of benevolent rituals, such as Pind Daan, Shradh, and Pitru Tarpan. This year, Pitru Paksha will start on September 29, 2023, and go until October 14, 2023. There is a great ritual associated with performing Pind Daan and Shradh for the departed ancestors during these days. Pind Daan is regarded as a path to salvation, and participating in the post-death ceremony in a Hindu household is seen as a duty that must be fulfilled by every Hindu.
Since the Vedas were written, Pind Daan has been a tradition. The body is what the term "pind" denotes. "Daan" refers to philanthropy or giving. Pind Daan, then, refers to the act of donating to the deceased's body. The deceased's soul becomes at peace and pleased after receiving pind daan. The soul showers the blessings on its family and moves on to Yamaloka in a better state.
Here are the 7 best places in India to perform the Pind-Daan ceremony during the sacred period of Shradh/Pitru Paksha 2023.
Top 7 Famous Places In India To Perform Pind Daan
1. Gaya, Bihar - The religious significance of Gaya, a city in the Indian state of Bihar, makes it one of the most venerated cities in the country. One of the holiest rivers in Hinduism is the Phalgu or Falgu River, which flows through Gaya. The Vayu Purana claims that the river represents Lord Vishnu in physical form. Pilgrims perform the pind daan there for their dearly departed souls. The Pind Daan of the sacred waters will help the departed's souls escape the cycle of rebirth and attain moksha.
2. Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh - The holy river Ganga in India flows through Varanasi, also known as Kashi. Hindu worshippers have come to regard the holy river Ganga, also known as the big Ganges River in Varanasi, as this river is most closely associated with religious rites. Along the banks of the revered Ganga river, the holy Hindu rite of Pind Daan is performed.
The sixteen-day Pitru Paksha festival is marked by a number of significant rituals, such as Pind Daan, Shradh, and Pitru Tarpan. (Image Source: Canva)
3. Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh - Every Hindu should make a pilgrimage to Allahabad, also known as Prayagraj, at least once in their lifetime. It is home to one of India's holiest places known as the Triveni Sangam, or the meeting of the three rivers Yamuna, Saraswati, and Ganges. Hindu worshippers in Allahabad make pind daan during a shradh ritual.
4. Haridwar, Uttarakhand - One of the seven holiest sites in Hinduism is Haridwar. The name has the meaning "Gateway to God". It is the starting point of the Hindu holy pilgrimage, which each Hindu is obligated to undertake at least once in their lives. The most well-known of India's holy rivers, the Ganges River, starts to flow from Haridwar. The Ganges River and its banks frequently serve as a place for performing rites for the deceased.
5. Jagannath Puri, Odisha - One of India's holiest cities, Jagannath Puri, is located at the meeting point of the Mahanadi and Bhargavi rivers which is renowned as the abode of Lord Jagannath. Hinduism considers the confluence of two bodies of water to be a sacred location. Hindu pilgrims travel to the holy site to wash in the waters in an effort to atone for their sins committed in this life. Additionally, Pind Daan is often carried out at this sacred place.
6. Dwarka, Gujrat - The glorious city of Dwarka in Gujrat is revered as Lord Krishna's kingdom. Numerous thousands of Hindus visit the holy site to worship. Additionally, it is an acknowledged site for Hindu rituals such as Pind Daan, which are done for the deceased. In addition to Dwarka, Pindar is a holy place where devotees perform Hindu rituals for the departed souls of their deceased loved ones.
7. Kurukshetra, Hariyana - A sacred water reservoir for Hindus, the Sannihit Sarovar is situated in Thanesar in the Kurukshetra region of Haryana. The intersection of seven sacred Sarasvatis, or legendary rivers, is known as the Sarovar, and it is said to contain sacred waters. To perform Pind Daan, Hindu worshippers from all across India and the world travel to this holy pilgrimage.
