Pinda

Pinda is a term used in Hindu ritual contexts to refer to a small lump or ball that is offered to ancestors during memorial rites. The word itself comes from Sanskrit and means a lump or pellet. In ritual usage, a pinda signifies the body or essence of the deceased and is part of the offerings made to sustain the soul in the afterlife.

In traditional practice, pindas are prepared as small balls, usually from ground rice flour, and may be combined with regional ingredients such as sesame seeds, ghee, or jaggery. The exact recipe varies by community and region. The pinda offering is typically performed during shraddha, a family ceremony held to honor deceased relatives, and is often accompanied by tarpan, the pouring of water and prayers for the departed.

The practice is described in various Hindu texts and is observed across many communities in the Indian subcontinent, though details and emphasis can differ. The pinda offering is part of a broader set of rites that reflect filial duty, remembrance, and the belief that proper oblations help ensure the well-being of the ancestors and blessings for the living.

Variations of the ritual exist among regional traditions, including differences in timing, naming (pinda dana or pindadana), and the accompanying rites. Despite these differences, the core idea remains: pindas serve as symbolic offerings to honor and sustain ancestral spirits within a ritual framework of reverence and remembrance.

See also: Shraddha, Pinda dana, Tarpan.