Weston arrived at Varanasi’s Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport on a Tuesday in October, jet-lagged from a 22-hour journey from Chicago. He had never been to India before. He did not speak Hindi. He was not a practising Hindu by upbringing. But he had made a promise — to his father, in the final hours before he passed — that he would one day perform Pind Daan in Varanasi as his father had always wished. That promise brought him halfway across the world to the banks of the Ganga, to an experience that he would later describe as “the most spiritually significant thing I have ever done in my life.”
Weston’s story is not unique. Each year, dozens of Americans, Europeans, Australians, and families from across the global Indian diaspora travel to Varanasi — and to Prayagraj, Gaya, and Haridwar — to perform Pind Daan for departed ancestors. Some are second-generation or third-generation Indian-Americans reconnecting with roots they were raised far from. Others are non-Indian origin individuals married into Hindu families, honouring obligations taken on through love and commitment. And some, like Weston, are outsiders drawn by a profound personal promise or a genuine spiritual curiosity that no Western religious tradition had been able to satisfy.
This is the story of what it means to perform Pind Daan as a foreigner in Varanasi — and a practical guide for every NRI or international visitor who wishes to undertake this sacred journey.
What Is Pind Daan and Why Does It Matter to Non-Resident Indians?
Pind Daan is a Vedic ancestral rite in which pindas — offerings made of cooked rice, sesame seeds, honey, ghee, and sacred kusha grass — are offered with Sanskrit mantras to departed ancestors. The ceremony is rooted in the concept of Pitr Rin — the debt of the ancestors — which every Hindu is considered to carry from birth. By performing Pind Daan, a descendant fulfils this sacred obligation, releasing their ancestors from the liminal state between death and the next life and supporting their journey toward liberation.
For NRI families and those living outside India, this obligation does not disappear simply because you live in another country. In fact, many NRI families feel the weight of the ancestors’ debt more acutely precisely because they have moved far from the traditions that gave shape to their identity. The act of travelling to India specifically to perform Pind Daan — and doing so at one of the great sacred cities like Varanasi, Prayagraj, or Gaya — is itself a statement of devotion that carries immense merit.
Varanasi, known also as Kashi and Benares, is one of the three supreme sites for Pind Daan in the Hindu tradition. According to scripture, those who die in Kashi receive the Taraka Mantra — the liberating mantra of Lord Shiva whispered directly into the ear of the dying — which guarantees their liberation regardless of their karma. Performing Pind Daan at Varanasi is particularly significant for souls of those who died in circumstances of illness, old age, or before their time, as Varanasi’s Shiva-infused spiritual energy is believed to neutralise even difficult karmic situations.
Weston’s Journey: The Week Before the Ceremony
Weston had been in contact with Prayag Pandits several months before his trip. His father — a second-generation Indian-American who had maintained his Hindu faith quietly but steadfastly throughout his life — had spoken of Varanasi with reverence. “He always said that the Ganga knows everything,” Weston recalled. “That she holds the memory of every soul who has ever touched her waters.”
The preparation process involved gathering information that Weston had not previously known: his father’s full name in Sanskrit, his gotra (ancestral lineage name), his date of death, and the names of his parents and grandparents. This genealogical reconstruction — common for families who have been in the diaspora for generations — is something our pandits regularly assist with. When a gotra is not known, traditional substitutes are available, and experienced priests can navigate these situations with care.
Prayag Pandits coordinated a qualified and experienced pandit at Varanasi’s Dashashwamedh Ghat — one of the most sacred and historically important ghats on the Ganga — and arranged for the complete materials required for the ceremony: pindas, sesame, flowers, holy water, kusha grass, and all ritual items. Nothing was left for Weston to source on his own in an unfamiliar city.
The Morning of the Ceremony: Arrival at the Ghat
Dashashwamedh Ghat at dawn is one of the most extraordinary sensory experiences Varanasi offers. The sky moves from indigo to orange to gold as boats filled with pilgrims drift on the river’s surface. Priests at the smaller ghats are already performing their morning Surya Arghya, lifting water cupped in their palms toward the rising sun. The smell of incense, wet stone, and marigolds fills the air. Bells ring from a dozen temples simultaneously.
Weston arrived at 5:30 AM. His assigned pandit — a man who had performed these ceremonies at this ghat for more than twenty years — greeted him in clear, careful English. This is a key aspect of the Prayag Pandits approach: ensuring that our NRI and international clients have a pandit who can guide them through each step in a language they understand, explaining not just what to do but why each gesture carries the meaning it does.
The ceremony began with a ritual bath — or in Weston’s case, a symbolic purification with Ganga water, acceptable for those unfamiliar with the full ablution. The pandit then guided Weston through the Sankalpa: the formal statement of intention in which the officiant declares their name, gotra, location, and purpose before the sacred ceremony begins. Weston recited the Sanskrit words phonetically, guided line by line. “I didn’t understand a word of it in the moment,” he said later. “But I understood everything it meant.”
The Ritual Itself: Step by Step Through the Ceremony
For those planning their own Pind Daan in Varanasi, here is what the ceremony typically involves. Read also our detailed guide on how to perform Pind Daan for a complete procedural overview.
The Sankalpa (Declaration of Intent)
The ceremony opens with the Sankalpa — a formal declaration in Sanskrit identifying the officiant (you), the departed soul, the sacred location, and the purpose of the rite. The pandit recites the full text; you repeat it in sections. This establishes the spiritual contract between the living and the departed.
Tarpan (Water Offering)
Water mixed with sesame seeds and flowers is offered to the ancestors through the cupped palms, with the water flowing back toward the river. Tarpan is performed for three generations of paternal ancestors, three generations of maternal ancestors, and for all departed family members. This offering is believed to quench the spiritual thirst of the ancestors and acknowledge their continued presence in the family’s life.
Pinda Daan (Rice Ball Offering)
This is the central rite. Balls of cooked rice mixed with sesame, honey, and ghee — the pindas — are formed by hand and offered on kusha grass mats placed on the ghat steps. A separate pinda is offered for each departed soul being commemorated. The pandit recites the specific mantra for each offering. The pindas are then immersed in the Ganga with the prayer that the ancestors receive the nourishment offered.
Brahmin Bhojan and Dana (Charitable Giving)
The ceremony is completed with offerings to Brahmin priests and charitable giving on behalf of the departed. This is considered an extension of the Pind Daan merit — by feeding and honouring learned persons in the name of the ancestor, one continues to generate merit that benefits the departed soul.
What Weston Experienced: The Emotional and Spiritual Dimension
“The moment the pandit said my father’s name in Sanskrit — his full name, which I had given him beforehand — I completely lost it,” Weston recalled. “I hadn’t cried since the funeral. But standing there at the Ganga with the sun just coming up and hearing my father’s name called out in that ancient language, with the water and the flowers and everything happening — something released. Something I didn’t even know I was carrying.”
This experience — of unexpected emotional release during Pind Daan — is not uncommon, and is not limited to those with Indian heritage. The ritual structure of Pind Daan creates a dedicated, intentional space for grief, gratitude, and letting go that many Western traditions do not provide with the same formality. The act of physically making an offering — something your hands have shaped, placed with intention — creates a somatic experience of connection that purely verbal prayer sometimes cannot achieve.
Cross-cultural participation in Pind Daan is also not a new phenomenon. The spiritual significance of Varanasi and the power of the Ganga have attracted sincere seekers from outside the Indian subcontinent for centuries. The tradition has always been welcoming to those who approach with genuine reverence.
Varanasi for the NRI or International Visitor: Practical Guide
Varanasi (also called Banaras or Kashi) is located in Uttar Pradesh and is approximately 130 kilometres from Prayagraj. The city’s Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport connects to Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, and several other major Indian cities. Many international visitors arrive via Delhi and take a connecting flight or train to Varanasi.
Getting Around Varanasi
The old city (the area surrounding the ghats) is best navigated on foot or by auto-rickshaw. The narrow lanes (galis) around Dashashwamedh Ghat and Vishwanath Temple are not accessible to cars. Pre-paid auto-rickshaws from the airport or railway station are recommended. Many pilgrims choose to stay at guesthouses directly on or near the ghats to minimise travel.
Where to Stay
The area around Assi Ghat and Dashashwamedh Ghat has a wide range of accommodation from budget guesthouses to mid-range hotels. For those performing Pind Daan, staying close to the ghats means you can reach the ceremony location on foot at dawn without the stress of arranging transportation in the early hours. Prayag Pandits can recommend trusted accommodation options near the relevant ghats as part of the booking process.
Best Time to Visit for Pind Daan
Pind Daan at Varanasi is performed throughout the year. The most auspicious times are:
- Pitrupaksha (September-October): The 16-day period dedicated entirely to ancestral rites — the most sacred time for all Pind Daan ceremonies
- Amavasya (New Moon days): Each month’s new moon is considered auspicious for ancestral rites
- Mahalaya Amavasya: The final day of Pitrupaksha, considered the supreme day for Pind Daan
- Death anniversary of the departed: The tithi (lunar date) of the ancestor’s death is considered particularly appropriate
- Throughout the year: Any day at Varanasi carries elevated merit for ancestral rites due to the city’s inherent sanctity
The Broader Pilgrimage Circuit: Varanasi, Prayagraj, and Gaya
Weston’s visit to Varanasi was part of a broader journey that also took him to Prayagraj. At the Triveni Sangam — the sacred confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati — he immersed his father’s ashes (Asthi Visarjan) before travelling onward to Varanasi for the Pind Daan ceremony. This sequence — Asthi Visarjan at Prayagraj followed by Pind Daan at Varanasi — is one of the most common and complete ancestral rites sequences performed by NRI families.
For families seeking the most comprehensive fulfilment of ancestral obligations, the full circuit adds Pind Daan at Gaya as the final act — the supreme site where Lord Vishnu’s own presence is believed to grant liberation to 101 generations of ancestors simultaneously.
Prayag Pandits offers coordinated services across all three locations. Our NRI poojan services are specifically designed to support families who are organising these ceremonies remotely or arriving in India for the first time. We coordinate pandit bookings, arrange materials, guide you through the procedures in English, and ensure that the ceremony unfolds with the reverence and completeness that your ancestors deserve.
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Common Questions from International Visitors
Over the years, Prayag Pandits has helped hundreds of NRI and international families perform Pind Daan. Here are the questions we hear most often — and the honest answers to each.
Do I need to be a practising Hindu to perform Pind Daan?
Sincerity of intention matters far more than formal religious identity. The tradition of Pind Daan is rooted in universal human obligations — honouring those who gave you life, remembering those who came before, and acknowledging the continuity of family across generations. These values transcend religious labels. What matters is that you approach the ceremony with genuine respect and a sincere desire to honour your ancestor.
What if I don’t know the gotra or Sanskrit name of my ancestor?
This is an extremely common situation for NRI families, especially those who are second or third generation. Our pandits have traditional methods for navigating unknown gotra, including using substitute lineage names accepted by scriptural authority. The ceremony remains valid and spiritually complete even when some genealogical details are unavailable.
Will I understand what is being said?
Your assigned pandit will explain the meaning and purpose of each part of the ceremony before it begins, and will guide you through each action step by step. The mantras themselves are in Sanskrit, but the pandit will ensure you understand what you are doing and why at every stage of the rite.
What the Ganga Teaches Every Visitor
Weston’s last morning in Varanasi, he returned to the ghat alone at sunrise. He sat by the river for an hour without any ceremony, any pandit, any obligation. “I just sat there,” he said. “And I felt — for the first time since my father died — that he was okay. That wherever he is, he’s at peace. I don’t know if that’s the ritual, or the river, or just grief finding its natural resolution. But something shifted. And I’m grateful I came.”
The Ganga does not discriminate between nationalities, languages, or spiritual traditions. She receives every sincere offering — whether from a lifelong Hindu at Varanasi’s ghats or an American performing Pind Daan for the first time — with equal, ancient grace. The Triveni Sangam at Prayagraj and the ghats of Varanasi have witnessed millions of such moments across thousands of years. Each one matters. Each one is received.
If you are considering Pind Daan at Varanasi — whether you are an NRI planning a heritage pilgrimage, a family fulfilling a long-deferred obligation, or someone like Weston honouring a promise made to a dying parent — know that you are not alone in this journey. Read more about our professional Pind Daan services and reach out to begin your planning. The river is waiting. For broader context on Varanasi as one of the world’s oldest continuously inhabited cities, the Incredible India guide to Varanasi offers a helpful reference.
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