What does Tarpan at Garh Mukteshwar include and how long does it take?

Tarpan is the offering of water mixed with black sesame seeds (til), kusha grass, and sometimes barley to satisfy the souls of departed ancestors. At Garh Mukteshwar, the ceremony guided by our pandit includes:

Ganga Snan — Purification bath in the Ganga. Sankalpa — Formal vow naming ancestors (three paternal generations). Tarpan offering — Water with sesame offered facing south through the Pitru Tirtha (space between thumb and index finger). Deva and Rishi Tarpan — Additional offerings to gods and sages. Concluding prayers — For ancestral peace and family blessings.

Duration: 45 minutes to 1.5 hours depending on the number of ancestors included. Tarpan can be combined with Pind Daan for a comprehensive ancestral ceremony.