The ritual of Pind Daan is done throughout the year on the banks of Gaya, but there is a specific time which is considered to be the most auspicious. Occasions in the Amawasya when there is Krishna Paksh during the months of the auspicious PitriPakshmela held for 18 days are the most significant days. People in large numbers gather here to perform these rites.
Following are the rituals as part of the Sraddth or PindDaan rite performed in Gaya Ji that includes:-
- Snana and Sankalpa : Take a bath in the holy River Ganges before performing Pind Daan.
- PindDaan : The worshiping of the departed souls and the ancestors.
- Tarpan :In this act the closest relatives make a sacred offering to God so that the soul may enter Swarga. Tarpana is also referred as Arghya where an offering is made to all the 5 Devas and Navagrahas. Some perform Tarpana by using water and Sesame seeds during Pitru Paksha which is known as Tilatarpana.
