Pitru Paksha Amavasya: Pitru Paksha, which was organized for a fortnight for the peace and salvation of the souls of ancestors, ended today. On the last day of Pitru Paksha, a huge crowd of devotees gathered in Sangam city Prayagraj to take a dip in the Triveni and perform Pinddaan, Tarpan and Shraddha rituals. Due to the solar eclipse, most of the devotees took a bath and performed Darshan Puja only after noon. Devotees coming from every corner of the country prayed for the peace of the souls of ancestors on this occasion. After the end of Pitru Paksha, Navratri will begin from tomorrow. Along with this, the auspicious works which were stopped for the last fortnight will also start.

In Sanatan Dharma, Pind Daan has special importance in Pitru Paksha. It is believed that Pind Daan done for ancestors in Pitru Paksha gives them salvation. This frees ancestors from the bondage of life and death. According to religious scriptures, the process of Pind Daan mainly takes place in Prayag - Kashi and Gaya, but the Shraddha Karma of ancestors begins with the Mundan Sanskar on the banks of Sangam in Prayag.

One gets freedom from ancestral debt by offering Pind Daan during Pitru Paksha.
The devotees get their heads shaved here and prepare seventeen Pindas and after performing the rituals, immerse them in Sangam. There is also a belief that offering Pind Daan at Sangam during Pitru Paksha also liberates one from ancestral debt. According to the Tirtha priests, offering Pind Daan by donating hair at Sangam on the occasion of Pitru Amavasya gives the same religious benefits as offering Pind Daan at Gaya. Most of the devotees perform Pind Daan and Tarpan according to the date of their ancestors. 

However, it is believed that if a person is unable to do this on the date, then he can perform these rituals on Amavasya i.e. the last day. Remembering the ancestors and donating and feeding the poor on the day of Pitru Amavasya gives peace to the souls of the ancestors. It is believed that donating on the day of Pitru Amavasya is more fruitful and donating on this day also relieves one from the dosha of Rahu.