Can women perform Pitrudosh Nivaran rituals?

Traditionally, the eldest male descendant performs Shradh and Pitrudosh Nivaran rites, as prescribed in the Dharmasutras. However, the Garuda Purana and several Smriti texts allow women to perform these rituals when no male heir exists, or when the son is unavailable or incapacitated. In many regions of India today, daughters and wives regularly perform Tarpan and Pind Daan with full Vedic sanction. The key requirement is sincere devotion (shraddha) and guidance from a knowledgeable pandit, not the gender of the performer.