Is Pind Daan necessary if parents are still alive?

Pind Daan is performed only for departed ancestors — it is not applicable while parents or grandparents are still living. However, some related ancestral rituals can still be observed: annual Shraddha for already-departed grandparents, Tarpan for known ancestors, and offerings during Pitrupaksha. If you wish to honour living parents, the appropriate observances are Matru/Pitru Puja, daan (charity), and seva. Once parents pass away, Pind Daan becomes the primary means of ensuring their peaceful journey to the ancestral realm.