Pind Daan is a sacred ritual in Hinduism that is performed after the death of a family member to offer homage to the departed soul and provide them relief from earthly attachments so that they can attain ultimate salvation. The word "pind" means a body, and "daan" denotes charity or giving. Therefore, Pind Daan means giving charity to the body of the deceased. The ritual involves offering food made in circular-ball form, known as pind, to the soul of the deceased by their relatives during shradh karma. The material used to prepare pind during shradh is made up of kneading rice or barley flour.
Pind Daan is considered a must-do obligation for every Hindu, and it is believed that performing this ritual can help the departed soul break free from the cycle of birth and death and attain moksha (liberation) . The ritual is also aimed at easing the journey of the soul towards final salvation and providing blessings, happiness, and good fortune to the living family.
The custom of Pind Daan dates back to the time when the Vedas were written, and it finds its origins in ancient Hindu scriptures, particularly the Garuda Purana. The ritual is performed in various holy places, including Gaya, Varanasi, Haridwar, Badrinath, Allahabad Sangam, and Jagannath Puri. In Gaya, the eldest male family members in the family generally offer Pind Daan, but in some cases, females are also allowed. The ritual is done after taking a holy bath at the river Falgu, Ganga, etc., according to the place it is being performed, and it is required to wear white holy clothes during shradh karma like traditional dhotis, kurta, etc. .
In conclusion, Pind Daan is a significant ritual in Hinduism that is performed to offer homage to the departed soul and provide them relief from earthly attachments so that they can attain ultimate salvation. The ritual involves offering food made in circular-ball form, known as pind, to the soul of the deceased by their relatives during shradh karma. The custom of Pind Daan dates back to the time when the Vedas were written, and it finds its origins in ancient Hindu scriptures, particularly the Garuda Purana. The ritual is performed in various holy places, including Gaya, Varanasi, Haridwar, Badrinath, Allahabad Sangam, and Jagannath Puri.