By Hemant SharmaFor those who don’t know, well, Pind Daan is a super important and kinda sacred ritual in the Hindu culture, you know, which you perform for the peace and liberation of the loved ones who have just passed away. It is all done so that their loved ones or ancestors can get moksha (liberation) or else, their souls will be stuck in this world, as per the Hindu culture. And sure enough, there are specific places, some sacred ones, where you perform Pind Daan. Today, we’re here just to let you know about the top 10 sacred Pind Daan places in India. So, if that’s what you’re looking for at the moment, do not skip any section of this post. Here we go.
1. Gaya, Bihar
Alright, to start this list, sure enough, Gaya down there in Bihar is the best place for Pind Daan. 100%! But why exactly? Well, there are different reasons for that, the first being the Holy Faiglu River by which Gaya sits is believed to be blessed by Lord Vishnu. You know, this place has 48 special places where people get this ritual done with the help of priests. For this though, you will need rice, wheat flour, dried milk, and more to complete the ritual. Many people think that if they do Pind Daan in Gaya, the soul gets peace FOREVER. And sure enough, every time is a busy time here, but during Pitru Paksha, literally thousands of people come to offer their respects to their ancestors.
2. Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh
Varanasi isn’t the oldest holy city in India, but it is counted as one of the oldest cities in the entire world. And as per why this city is special, well, it is actually by the Ganga River, and that’s what makes it a special place. Sure enough, getting Pind Daan done at the famous ghats of Manikarnika and Dashashwamedh here is said to give great peace to the soul. You know, like, following the prayers, rice balls mixed with honey and milk are offered to the deceased soul, and priests chant mantras to help them in their journey to the afterlife. There is this belief among people that this is the city that Lord Shiva himself watches over, so, whoever gets Pind Daan here, can achieve Moksha.
3. Prayagraj (Allahabad), Uttar Pradesh
We’re talking about Sacred Pind Daan places, right? Well, tell us which place would be more sacred than a Prayagraj, where three rivers Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati meet? So no wonder why people believe that when you do Pind Daan here, your sins wash away. It helps the soul reach a good place. Here, you begin by taking a dip in the holy waters, and then you offer sesame seeds and rice to your ancestors.
4. Brahma Kapal, Badrinath, Uttarakhand
Right by the Alaknanda River, that’s where you’ll find Brahma Kapal, and Badrinath, down there in Uttrakhand. And if we go by the Hindu texts/scriptures, Lord Brahma himself did penance here, making this place a powerful place for Pind Daan, no two ways about that. People think that once they do the ritual here, they don’t have to do it anywhere else. Most of the time, while on the Char Dham Yatra, most people do their Brahma Kapal ritual.
5. Haridwar, Uttarakhand
One place in India that a lot of people know the Ganga River is surely Haridwar, and it is among the most important holy places in the country. Most people perform the ritual at the famous ghat Har Ki Pauri. They think that the Ganga carries their offerings to their ancestors in heaven, well, that’s what a lot of people believe, so be it. The evening Ganga Aarti is a magical experience that just gives goosebumps, if you’re there, just feel it.
6. Puri, Odisha
By this point, we all know that Puri is famous for the Jagannath Temple and its spiritual aura. It is highly regarded as very powerful to do Pind Daan here, especially at the Sangam of the Mahanadi and Bhargavi rivers, you know? Here though, just know that the priests assist you with rice balls and sesame seeds to bring peace to your forefathers. Puri is a place of the Char Dham yatra. So no wonder why it is a popular site for religious activities.
7. Dwarka, Gujarat
Like, do we even need to explain why is Dwarka a sacred place and why it could be the best place for Pind Daan in India? It is literally the home of Lord Krishna himself. The Gomti River, adjacent to the Dwarkadheesh Temple, is where Lord Krishna’s home is, and if you do Pind Daan here, it is believed that your prayers reach straight to the divine world. So no wonder why families perform the ritual here, you know, with rice, black sesame, and holy water asking for peace for the departed of the family.
8. Pushkar, Rajasthan
Next on the list, you see, Pushkar is known for its holy lake which was created from a lotus that dropped down from Lord Brahma, that’s what people believe. It’s special to perform Pind Daan here in the month of Ashwin, you know, thousands of devotees come to perform it here.
9. Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh
Alright, here is the birthplace of Lord Rama, and yes, we’re talking about Ayodhya down there in Uttar Pradesh. After the Ram Mandir inauguration, this place became even more popular. And there is no way that someone from the Hindu culture can doubt the sacredness of this place, so that’s precisely why doing Pind Daan here is also considered good.
10. Siddhpur, Gujarat
Last on the list, you see, Siddhpur is a unique place because it’s mainly known for Pind Daan of maternal ancestors. Just know that the rituals are done at Bindu Sarovar as it is believed to be formed from the tears of Lord Vishnu. According to legends, Lord Parshuram himself performed this ritual here for his mother, how about that now?
Conclusion
That’s all. Since you can perform Pind Daan on the Bank of the holy river “Ganges,” that is why there are so many Pind Daan places in India. But the sacred ones we have shared with you are some special places which have importance in Indian culture and history. That’s why!