In early 2023, we received a booking request for Asthi Visarjan in Haridwar through Poojat. At first, it appeared to be like any other booking. Every day, Poojat manages a large number of Pooja and Seva bookings, and our standard Asthi Visarjan package in Haridwar is ₹3,100, which includes all Pooja Samagri, Pandit Dakshina, and the complete ritual as per Vedic traditions.
On the day of the ceremony, our assigned Pandit called our Relationship Manager with unexpected news. The Asthi Visarjan was for a 12-year-old girl from Dehradun who had become the victim of a horrific crime and Rape that had received nationwide media attention. The moment we learned this, the entire team was deeply moved.
Without any discussion about business considerations, our Relationship Manager and the Pandit immediately decided that Poojat would conduct the entire ceremony for a symbolic amount of just ₹100. In Hindu traditions, every sacred ritual requires at least a token Dakshina for the Pandit, so charging nothing was not considered appropriate. The ₹100 was purely symbolic, ensuring the sanctity of the ritual while removing every possible financial burden from the grieving family.
Poojat arranged all the required Pooja Samagri, coordinated the complete ceremony, and also arranged an experienced senior Pandit to join the rituals so that every Vedic mantra and tradition could be performed with the utmost care, respect, and authenticity.
We also explored the possibility of performing Pind Daan and Tripindi Shraddha along with the Asthi Visarjan. However, after consulting the senior Pandits, it was advised that these rituals should be performed after the completion of one year, in accordance with traditional Hindu scriptures and customs.
This incident remains one of the most emotional moments in Poojat's journey. It reminded us that our mission is not merely to facilitate religious services but to stand with families in their most difficult moments, ensuring that every soul receives a respectful farewell according to Sanatan Dharma.
