Can Pind Daan be performed at Gaya for someone who died many years ago?

Yes — in fact, Gaya Pind Daan is specifically recommended for ancestors who died long ago and whose regular Shraddha may have been missed or incomplete. The Vayu Purana and Garuda Purana emphasise that Gaya’s power to liberate is not limited by time — ancestors who died 5, 10, 50, or even 100+ years ago can still be liberated through Gaya Pind Daan. The ritual is especially beneficial for: grandparents and great-grandparents whose names are still remembered, ancestors who died during partition, war, or natural disasters, and long-forgotten ancestors whose tithis are unknown. For the latter, the Sankalpa specifies “all unmarked ancestors of my lineage” and the single ceremony serves the entire family history.