Can women and daughters perform Asthi Visarjan and Shradh rituals?

Yes. While traditional practice emphasised sons as primary performers, scriptures including the Garuda Purana and later Smritis acknowledge daughters, wives, daughters-in-law, and other female relatives as valid performers when a son is unavailable or when the daughter chooses to honour her parents herself. Modern Vedic pandits across Prayagraj, Varanasi, Haridwar, and Gaya routinely guide daughters through the complete Asthi Visarjan and Shradh rituals. The spiritual efficacy is identical regardless of the performer’s gender, provided the correct gotra invocation, sankalpa, and Sanskrit mantras are recited. We regularly assist daughters and women through these rites at all major tirthas.