The Holy Sites for Shradha and Pind Daan in 2025: A Prayag Pandits Guide

Introduction – Holy Sites for Shradha and Pind Daan in 2025 With Pitrupaksha 2025 fast approaching (September 7th to September 21st), devout families across India, from Mumbai to Delhi, are asking a crucial question: “What is the most sacred place to perform Shraddha and Pind Daan for our ancestors?” While performing these rites at home […]
A Step-by-Step Guide to Pitrupaksha Rituals: What to Do and How

Introduction: A Step-by-Step Guide to Pitrupaksha Rituals As the sacred fortnight of Pitrupaksha approaches (from September 7th to September 21st, 2025), many feel a deep calling to honour their ancestors. Yet, a common question arises: “What exactly happens during Pitrupaksha? What are the essential rituals I need to perform?” The scriptures outline a series of […]
Understanding Pilgrimage Seasons Nature Clock and Divine Timings

What exactly defines a pilgrimage season? It’s a confluence of factors, both natural and human-ordained- Understanding Pilgrimage Seasons Nature Clock and Divine Timings Climatic Factors: Perhaps the most apparent influence is weather. Extreme temperatures, monsoons, heavy snowfall, or arid conditions can render pilgrimage routes impassable or perilous, naturally creating “on” and “off” seasons. For instance, […]
Challenges Faced During Asthi Visarjan Varanasi

Challenges Faced During Asthi Visarjan Varanasi, the ritualistic immersion of cremated remains (asthi) into holy waters, holds immense significance in Hinduism. Varanasi, also known as Kashi, is considered one of the most auspicious locations for this rite. The belief is that performing Asthi Visarjan in the Ganga at Varanasi ensures the departed soul attains moksha, […]
The Sacred Journey Home: Unearthing Local Beliefs and Oral Histories Around Asthi Visarjan

Local Beliefs and Oral Histories Around Asthi Visarjan: A Brief Overview Before we immerse ourselves in the local narratives, it’s essential to understand the scriptural underpinnings that give Asthi Visarjan its profound significance. Hindu scriptures, including the Vedas, Puranas, and Dharmashastras, emphasize the sanctity of the human body as a temporary vessel for the eternal […]
Weaving Time with Tradition: Ritual Timings and Auspicious Muhurat in Varanasi

An Introduction to Sacred Timekeeping: Timings and Auspicious Muhurat in Varanasi Varanasi, also known as Kashi or Banaras, is a city where time itself seems to flow differently, attuned to ancient cosmic rhythms rather than the ticking of a mundane clock. For millennia, this sacred city on the banks of the Ganges has been a […]
Assi Ghat Where Rituals Culture and Spirituality Converge by the Ganges

Assi Ghat Where Rituals Culture and Spirituality Converge by the Ganges, Varanasi, the eternal city, is adorned with a string of ghats that line the sacred Ganges, each narrating tales of divinity, human existence, and timeless traditions. Among these, Assi Ghat, located at the city’s southern extremity, stands out as a vibrant confluence of devotion, […]
Varanasi: The Hallowed Ground for a Souls Final Journey– A Historical Perspective

Varanasi, also known as Kashi or Benares, stands as one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, a beacon of spirituality, and the epicenter of Hindu cosmology. For millennia, it has drawn pilgrims, seekers, and, most significantly, those approaching the end of their earthly lives or their grieving families. The city’s identity is […]
Who is eligible to perform Pind Daan?

It is a question of great practical importance and often carries emotional weight within families. Who bears the sacred responsibility, the adhikara (right and authority), to perform Pinda Daan for the departed? Who is eligible to perform Pind Daan? The performance of Shraddha, including Pinda Daan, is considered a profound duty (Dharma), primarily aimed at […]
Comprehensive Guide to Pitrupaksha Tarpan Mantras 2024: Rituals, Benefits, and Regional Customs

Introduction – Pitrupaksha Tarpan Mantras Pitrupaksha, also known as Shradh or Mahalaya Paksha, is a significant period in the Hindu calendar dedicated to performing rituals for the departed ancestors. This 16-day period, which falls in the month of Bhadrapada (usually September-October), is considered a time when the spirits of the ancestors visit the earthly realm […]