When do Bengali families typically travel to Gaya for Pind Daan?

Bengali families traditionally travel to Gaya in two windows. The first is December through February — the post-harvest season after the Aman rice harvest — when families have both the time and financial means to undertake the pilgrimage. The weather is cool and pleasant, trains are less crowded than during the festival season, and the overall atmosphere at Gaya is serene. The second window is Pitru Paksha (September–October), specifically Mahalaya Amavasya, which in 2026 falls on October 10. This is the holiest day for Bengali tarpan and many families combine the Gaya yatra with their Mahalaya observance before returning home for Durga Puja. Book trains at least 3–4 months in advance for the Pitrupaksha window as demand is very high.