The Significance of Pind Daan During Pitru Paksha in Jagannath Puri

Jagannath Puri, September 24 (Daily Kiran) : The Pitru Paksha period, dedicated to honoring ancestors, is marked by rituals such as Tarpan and Pind Daan. This year, it begins on September 26 with the full moon Shraddh and continues until October 10, culminating on Sarvapitra Amavasya. Many devotees travel to Jagannath Puri in Odisha to perform these sacred rites.

During this time, people flock to the banks of several holy rivers for Pind Daan. The sacred Bhargavi River is one such site where families gather to conduct Tarpan and Pind Daan rituals. It is believed that performing these rites along the river grants peace and liberation to the souls of ancestors, freeing them from the cycle of birth and death—a process referred to as the “door to liberation.”

Jagannath Puri, one of the four sacred Hindu pilgrimage sites, attracts numerous devotees to the banks of the Bhargavi River for these rituals. It is widely believed that visiting all four pilgrimage sites absolves one of sins and leads to spiritual liberation. By performing Pind Daan, family members accumulate merit, which brings peace to the souls of their ancestors.

Traditionally, crows are regarded as messengers of the ancestors and symbols associated with Yama, the god of death. As a result, it is customary to offer food to crows during Shraddh ceremonies. This food is believed to reach the ancestors through the crows. Additionally, offering water and sesame seeds during Pitru Paksha is thought to satisfy the souls of the departed, who in turn bestow blessings for the family’s well-being.