Reviewed for accuracy by Carlos Vargas, Texas Licensed Funeral Director (TFSC License No. 119648) · Last reviewed March 23, 2026 ·
What pind daan and shraddha are, briefly
Pind daan is the offering of pindas (rice balls) to the departed soul and to the ancestors (pitrs). The offerings help nourish the atma's journey in the afterlife per Hindu cosmology. Shraddha is the broader memorial ritual that includes pind daan and additional mantras, prayers, and community meals.
Together, pind daan and shraddha form the 10-to-13-day observance period following cremation. Families vary on exact days — some perform daily rituals from day 1 through day 13; others concentrate on specific key days (3rd, 10th, 11th, 13th).
The sequence of observance days
Day 1 (day of cremation or day after)
The pandit guides the family in the first pind daan. Small rice balls (sometimes mixed with ghee, honey, sesame seeds) are offered with specific mantras. At home, the family sets up a small shrine area with the photo of the deceased, flowers, incense, and a simple bhog offering (typically kheer, fruits, or the deceased's favorite vegetarian dish).
Days 2 through 9
Daily prayers at home with the lamp continuously lit. Some traditions perform a small pind daan each day; others do so only on specific key days. The family continues vegetarian meals, and in orthodox tradition, the family may avoid certain activities (extended travel, haircuts, elaborate social gatherings) during this period.
Day 10 (dashah)
A more extensive shraddha is performed. The pandit conducts a formal ceremony at home or at the temple. A community meal is served.
Day 11 (ekadashah)
Another key day in some traditions, with specific mantras and offerings.
Day 12 (dwadashah)
Preparation for day 13 and additional rituals.
Day 13 (terahvin)
The formal conclusion of the intensive mourning period. A larger gathering at home or temple; elaborate shraddha ceremony with the pandit; community meal for 50 to 200 attendees typically. The family "re-enters" social life after this day, though grief continues privately.
Where to hold the rites
At home
Most DFW Hindu families hold pind daan and shraddha at home for days 1 through 9. A corner of the living room or family room becomes the temporary shrine. The pandit visits on key days. Advantages: familiar space, family can maintain rituals without travel, other daily activities can continue.
At temple
Day 13 (terahvin) particularly often moves to the temple for space and formality. DFW Hindu Temple in Irving, Ekta Mandir in Irving, and Karya Siddhi Hanuman Temple in Frisco all accommodate terahvin gatherings. The temple provides space, sometimes catering for the langar (community meal), and the formal ritual setting.
Hybrid
Days 1–9 at home; day 10 or 11 at home or temple; day 13 at temple with large gathering.
Involving family in India
Family in India often cannot travel to Texas for the 13-day observance. Common approaches:
- Parallel ritual in India: A pandit at the family's temple in India performs simultaneous shraddha. DFW family participates by video call.
- Full video participation: The DFW family performs the ritual; India relatives watch by video. Smartphone cameras on tripods work well; Zoom or WhatsApp video calls are standard.
- Delayed family ritual: A family elder travels to DFW for days 10–13; the core ritual is performed while they are present.
All three are religiously acceptable. Consult your pandit for tradition-specific guidance.
Material preparations
Items the family typically needs for pind daan and shraddha:
- Rice (uncooked and cooked — for pind rolls)
- Black sesame seeds (til)
- Darbha grass (dried; available at Indian grocery stores)
- Ghee
- Honey
- Milk (for kheer and offerings)
- Fresh fruits
- Flowers (ideally white and marigold)
- Incense and oil for the diya
- The photo of the deceased
- A designated area of the home for the shrine
Your pandit will provide a specific list for your tradition before day 1.
Coordinating with the pandit
The pandit leads each key-day ritual. Coordination:
- Confirm the pandit is available for days 1, 10, 11, and 13 at the time of initial arrangement
- Discuss honoraria upfront (typical DFW pandit honoraria for the full 13-day sequence: $500 to $1,500)
- Ask whether the pandit prefers to come to your home or to the temple for each day
- Provide the pandit with basic biographical information about the deceased (name, parents' names, date of birth, date of death, gotra if known)
The langar / community meal
Days 10–13 typically include a community meal. In DFW, this is often catered from one of the Indian restaurants (Desi Galli, Tadka, or tradition-specific caterers). The meal is strictly vegetarian; no onion or garlic in some orthodox traditions during the mourning period.
Typical costs: $10–$20 per person for catered vegetarian food. Families often host 50–200 attendees on day 13.
After day 13
The formal intensive observance concludes. The family resumes normal activities, including social gatherings, haircuts, and travel. Private grief continues; annual shraddha on the death anniversary is observed in most traditions. The eldest son (or designated family member) typically continues annual shraddha for many years.