Frequently Asked Questions

Visit our Book Now page, select your package (Essential, Premium, or Royal), choose your ceremony date, fill in your ancestor's details and your contact information, and proceed to payment. The entire process takes under 5 minutes. After payment, our team will WhatsApp you within 2 hours to confirm all details.

We strongly recommend booking at least 2–3 weeks before your preferred date. Peak dates — especially Navami and Sarva Pitru Amavasya (Mahalaya) — fill up very quickly. Royal package holders get priority slot access. For Shravan, book at least 4 weeks ahead as Ujjain sees very high footfall during the month.

Yes. During booking you can select any available date from our calendar. Ceremony times are typically scheduled in the morning (6 AM–12 PM), which is the auspicious muhurta window. Exact time slots are confirmed via WhatsApp after booking based on availability. Royal package holders may request specific time windows.

Yes. You can add additional ancestors at ₹1,500 per ancestor as an add-on. Please list all names, gotras, and tithis during the detail-sharing step on WhatsApp after booking. Each ancestor receives a personalised Sankalp reading.

After booking you'll be asked for: ancestor's full name, gotra (lineage), tithi or approximate date of passing, your relationship to them, and your Prasad delivery address. None of these are mandatory to pay — you share them on WhatsApp after the booking is confirmed.

Absolutely. Many families book on behalf of elderly parents or relatives. The booking can be in your name and the Prasad shipped to any address worldwide. All WhatsApp updates will go to the phone number provided at booking.

Yes — date changes and detail updates are free if requested at least 5 days before the ceremony. One free reschedule is permitted per booking. A ₹500 fee applies for a second reschedule. Contact us on WhatsApp to make changes.

We provide complete documentation: photos sent within 4 hours, videos within 24 hours (for Premium and Royal), and WhatsApp checkpoint updates during the ceremony. Royal package holders receive a live stream link. The photos and video clearly show your ancestor's name and gotra being read in the Sankalp.

This is very common, especially for diaspora families. If the gotra is unknown, our pandits use “Kashyapa” gotra — the universal ancestral lineage accepted in Vedic tradition. If the tithi (death anniversary) is unknown, we perform the puja on Sarva Pitru Amavasya (Mahalaya), which is Shastrically valid for all ancestors regardless of death date.

All pandits on our roster are Brahmin scholars verified for lineage, ritual knowledge, and professionalism. They undergo a multi-step vetting process: lineage check → knowledge test on Sankalp and mantras → supervised trial ceremony. You can read more on our About page. We also encourage you to interact directly with your pandit via WhatsApp before the ceremony.

Yes. The Sankalp (vow) at the start of every Hindu puja explicitly names both the patron (you, the yajamaana) and the ancestor — which Shastrically establishes the puja as being performed on your behalf regardless of your physical presence. This is the same principle used when Hindus have pujas performed at distant temples for centuries.

We never perform abbreviated ceremonies. Each puja includes the complete Sankalp, Pind Daan with all prescribed offerings, and the closing Tarpan. We cap daily bookings per pandit (max 3–4 per day) specifically to ensure no ceremony is rushed.

It is traditionally auspicious to observe a partial fast (avoid non-veg food) on the day of the ceremony. Our free Pitra Paksha Sadhana Guide PDF covers all the at-home rituals, prayers, and dietary guidelines you can follow alongside your remote booking for maximum spiritual benefit.

Pitra Paksha 2026 runs from Sunday, 7 September to Monday, 22 September 2026 (Bhadrapada Krishna Paksha). The final day, Sarva Pitru Amavasya (also called Mahalaya), is the most significant date and covers all ancestors regardless of their death tithi.

Gaya's sanctity for Shraddh is described in the Mahabharata, Vayu Purana, and Garuda Purana. Lord Vishnu's footprint at Vishnupad is believed to grant moksha (liberation) to ancestors when Pind Daan is offered there. Lord Ram himself is said to have performed Pind Daan for King Dasharatha at the Falgu River. It is considered one of the three most sacred places in India for ancestral rites.

• Vishnupad Temple — the primary site, built over Lord Vishnu's footprint. Included in all packages.
• Falgu River (Phalgu Tirth) — where Lord Ram performed Pind Daan for his father. Included in Premium and Royal packages.
• Akshayavat (The Eternal Tree) — a sacred Peepal tree associated with Yudhishthira's Shraddh in the Mahabharata. Included in Royal package only.

Ideally, the puja should be performed on the tithi (lunar day) matching your ancestor's death date. If unknown, Sarva Pitru Amavasya (the last day, Mahalaya) is universally auspicious and valid for all ancestors. Navami is especially auspicious for mothers. We'll help you identify the correct date once you share the details on WhatsApp.

Shraddh can technically be performed anywhere near a river or sacred body of water. However, the Shastras grant Gaya a special status — Pind Daan at Gaya is said to confer moksha that equivalent rituals at other places cannot. That said, for families who prefer Ujjain, we also offer Shraddh rituals at the Shipra River and Mahakaleshwar temple complex. See the Ujjain FAQ section below.

Ujjain is home to Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga — one of the 12 Jyotirlingas of Shiva — and is the site of specific rituals that carry unique spiritual authority:

• Mahakaleshwar Bhasma Aarti — the most sacred daily ritual in Ujjain (early morning, 4 AM). Darshan booking is difficult in person; we facilitate it for you.
• Pitru Dosh Nivaran Puja — a specific Shiva-based ritual to clear ancestral karma/debt, performed at Mahakaleshwar.
• Shravan Somvar Puja — Mondays in Shravan are extremely auspicious for Shiva worship. We offer dedicated puja booking for all four Mondays of Shravan.
• Kaal Sarp Dosh Puja — can only be authentically performed at Mahakaleshwar or Trimbakeshwar. We offer it at Ujjain.
• Shipra River Shraddh — for families who prefer Ujjain over Gaya for ancestral rites.

Certain rituals derive their power specifically from location. Kaal Sarp Dosh puja is considered most potent at Ujjain (Mahakaleshwar) or Nashik (Trimbakeshwar) due to the Jyotirlinga energy. Bhasma Aarti with actual vibhuti from the Mahakal Shivalinga is unique to Ujjain. No other place can replicate these specific forms of worship.

Yes. Many families choose to perform Pind Daan in Gaya during Pitra Paksha and a Pitru Dosh Nivaran or Shravan puja in Ujjain for a complete spiritual solution. You can book them as separate orders, or contact us on WhatsApp to create a combined package.

Ujjain-specific packages are currently being finalized and will be live shortly. In the meantime, please WhatsApp us to enquire about Ujjain puja availability and pricing. We'll be happy to arrange a custom booking.

Shravan (Sawan) 2026 runs from approximately 25 July to 22 August 2026. This is the holiest month for Lord Shiva worship. The four Somvar (Mondays) — Shravan Somvar — are considered especially powerful. Bookings for Shravan open in early July 2026.

During Shravan we offer:

• Shravan Somvar Abhishek — sacred bathing (Rudrabhishek) of the Shivalinga every Monday of Shravan at Mahakaleshwar, Ujjain.
• Mahakaleshwar Bhasma Aarti Darshan — facilitated booking for the early morning aarti with live streaming.
• Rudrabhishek at Mahakaleshwar — a full puja with Panchamrit abhishek on behalf of your family.
• Solah Somvar Vrat Puja — for those observing the 16-Monday fast. We perform the temple puja on your behalf with documentation.

Our Shravan pujas are currently focused on Ujjain (Mahakaleshwar) as it is the premier Shiva pilgrimage site in India. We are in the process of expanding to Varanasi (Kashi Vishwanath) and Nashik (Trimbakeshwar) for Shravan 2026. Sign up on our WhatsApp list to be notified when those become available.

Yes! Gifting a puja is one of the most meaningful spiritual gestures. You book and pay, then share the recipient's details and delivery address for Prasad. We'll also send a digital gift card by email or WhatsApp that they can forward to family. Contact us for gifting arrangements.

India: UPI, Debit/Credit Cards, Net Banking, Wallets (Paytm, PhonePe, etc.) via Razorpay.

International: Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Apple Pay, Google Pay via Stripe (payments in USD, GBP, AED, CAD, AUD). Our team will send you the appropriate payment link based on your country.

Yes. We use Razorpay (for India) and Stripe (for international) — both are PCI-DSS Level 1 compliant payment processors. PitraSeva never stores your card details. Payments are encrypted end-to-end.

Yes. A GST-inclusive itemised invoice is emailed to you automatically after payment. It lists the package, add-ons, subtotal, GST (18%), and total amount paid. If you need a specific billing format, contact us on WhatsApp.

The prices shown on the booking page are before GST. GST @ 18% is added at checkout (shown clearly in the order summary). There are no other hidden charges. The checkout total is the exact amount you pay — no surprises.

Yes. When you select a non-India country on the booking form, you are routed to our Stripe payment page which accepts international currencies. The amount is converted at current exchange rates. Contact us on WhatsApp if you face any international payment issues.

Photos are shared via WhatsApp and Google Drive within 4 hours of the ceremony. Edited videos are delivered within 24 hours via a shareable Google Drive link. Royal package 4K videos may take up to 36 hours. Downloads are yours to keep permanently.

Prasad is dispatched within 24 hours of the ceremony. Delivery timelines: India — 3–5 business days (Delhivery/Blue Dart). International — 7–14 business days via DHL/FedEx. Express international shipping (2–5 days) is available as an add-on (₹999). You receive a tracking link via WhatsApp once dispatched.

The Prasad package includes sacred items from the puja: Ganga jal (holy water), tilak (sacred ash), sesame seeds (til), Akshat (rice grains blessed during Sankalp), and a handwritten puja certificate with your ancestor's name. Premium and Royal packages include additional blessed items from Gau Daan and the specific site visited.

First, check your tracking link (sent via WhatsApp after dispatch). If the expected window has passed, WhatsApp us with your Booking ID and we will investigate and either expedite or resend at our cost. Prasad delivery is covered by our service guarantee.

• Cancelled 7+ days before: 100% refund
• Cancelled 3–6 days before: 50% refund
• Cancelled within 2 days: No refund (preparations will have started)
• If puja not performed due to our error: 100% refund + rescheduling at no charge

Refunds are processed within 5–7 business days to your original payment method.

Yes. One free reschedule is included per booking (request at least 5 days before the ceremony). A ₹500 fee applies for a second reschedule. We recommend rescheduling over cancelling where possible, as it ensures the puja is still performed for your ancestor.

Your satisfaction is paramount. If you are dissatisfied with documentation quality, ritual conduct, or Prasad delivery, please raise a complaint within 48 hours of receiving media/delivery via WhatsApp. We will investigate and offer a partial or full refund, or a complimentary re-booking, depending on the issue.

In case of extreme weather (rare during September), pandit unavailability, or other force majeure events, we will immediately offer a free reschedule to the next available date. If no suitable date is available within the Pitra Paksha window, a full refund is provided.