Pind Daan in Haridwar: Yatra from Delhi

Highlights & Route

Haridwar is one of the places where Hindu families have come for generations to perform Pind Daan, Tarpan and Shraddh for their ancestors. The Ganga enters the plains here, and the ghats around Har Ki Pauri, Kushavarta Ghat and the Narayani Shila temple are set aside for exactly these rites. This short yatra takes you from Delhi to Haridwar, arranges a qualified purohit for the ceremonies, and leaves time for darshan at the main temples of the town.

The rituals are kept at the centre of the plan. On the second morning you are taken to the ghat at the correct time, the purohit explains each step in simple Hindi, and the family performs the offerings together without hurry. Everything needed for the ceremony is arranged in advance, so you only need to carry a few personal items. After the rites, the day continues gently with the ropeway temples on the two hills that overlook the town.

We have planned this with elderly parents and grieving families in mind. Drives are kept to one stretch a day, the hotel is chosen for its closeness to Har Ki Pauri, and the second evening is left free. If your family follows a particular tradition for Shraddh, or needs a purohit who speaks a specific language, tell us when you book and we will arrange it.

Route

Delhi → Haridwar (2 nights) → Delhi

Good to know before you book

• Pind Daan can be performed through the year, but Pitru Paksha (the fortnight before Sharad Navratri, usually in September or October) is the busiest period. Hotels and purohits fill up early in those two weeks, so book well ahead if those dates matter to you.
• Carry the name, gotra and date of death (if known) of the person for whom the rites are being performed; the purohit will ask for these.
• Dakshina for the purohit and the cost of puja samagri are paid directly at the ghat and are not part of the package price.
• Ropeway tickets for Mansa Devi and Chandi Devi are bought on the spot. Both temples can also be reached on foot by steps, but the climb is steep.
• The drive from Delhi to Haridwar is around 220 km and usually takes 5 to 6 hours with a tea break; it can be longer on weekends and holidays.

Darshan, puja and timing notes

Pind daan and tarpan in Haridwar are done in the morning, usually finishing before noon, at Kushavarta Ghat beside Har Ki Pauri or at the Narayani Shila temple. The Ganga Aarti at Har Ki Pauri is held at sunset every day, so its time moves with the season: roughly 6 pm in winter and closer to 7 pm in summer. Reach Brahmakund 45 minutes early for a place on the steps.

• Family records: Haridwar’s tirth purohits keep handwritten genealogy registers (bahi) arranged by the family’s native district and village. Tell us your ancestral place when booking; families are often able to see their forefathers’ entries and add the names of the departed.
• Asthi visarjan: if you are carrying asthi, keep them in a cloth bag or urn with the person’s name. Visarjan is done at Har Ki Pauri before the pind daan, with the same purohit.
• Dress: simple clothes in light colours; a dhoti or kurta-pyjama for the man leading the rites, saree or salwar for women. Avoid leather. Carry a full change of clothes.
• Best tithi: the tithi of death, Amavasya, or the days of Pitru Paksha. In 2027 Pitru Paksha is expected from 15 to 29 September, ending with Sarva Pitru Amavasya.

The Kumbh in 2027. Haridwar hosts the Kumbh from January to April 2027. The state government has announced bathing dates from Makar Sankranti (14 January) to Chaitra Purnima (20 April), with Amrit Snans on 6 March (Maha Shivaratri), 8 March (Phalgun Amavasya) and 14 April (Mesh Sankranti). On and around these dates vehicles stop far from the ghats and hotels are booked out. Pind daan is still possible, but plan for more walking or choose a quieter week. Our Haridwar Kumbh 2027 guide lists every date.

Is this yatra right for you?

This is a light yatra for grieving families and elderly parents: one drive each way, a hotel near the ghats and a free evening. It is right when the family wants to perform the rites together in person in Haridwar.

If your family tradition calls for Gaya shraddh, Haridwar does not replace it; choose our Kashi–Gaya Pind Daan Yatra and read the Gaya pind daan guide. If family members cannot travel, a purohit can perform the rites in your name through our Haridwar Asthi Visarjan and Pind Daan (Online), with video. If you only want darshan and the Ganga Aarti, take the Haridwar Rishikesh Yatra.

How this differs from our other pind daan options