Refund & Cancellation Policy

Our Commitment to You

At Padagaya, we deeply understand the sacred nature of the services you book with us. Ancestral rituals like Pinda Pradanam, Shraddha Karma, Tarpanam, and Narayana Bali are performed at auspicious tithis by experienced Vedic priests who dedicate significant time and resources to prepare for each ritual. We also understand that life circumstances can change unexpectedly, and sometimes plans must be altered.

This refund and cancellation policy has been designed to be fair to both our devotees and our team of priests. We aim to provide maximum flexibility wherever possible while protecting the effort that goes into preparing ritual materials, coordinating temple access, and arranging the muhurtam-based scheduling that is central to authentic Vedic ritual services.

Please read this policy carefully before making a booking. If you have any questions, our team is always available on WhatsApp at +91 95534 63555 to help you understand your options before and after booking.

Cancellation Policy — Ritual Services

Applies to: Pinda Pradanam, Shraddha Karma, Tarpanam, Narayana Bali, Mahalaya Shraddha, Pitru Amavasya, and all ritual packages.

Our ritual cancellation policy is structured around the advance notice you provide. Rituals are scheduled based on Vedic tithi calendars and muhurtam (auspicious timings). Once a slot is booked, our priests begin preparations including procuring puja samagri, coordinating with the temple, and blocking the muhurtam. The following table outlines your refund entitlement based on when you cancel:

During peak seasons such as Pitru Paksha, Amavasya days, and Mahalaya Shraddha periods, ritual slots are in very high demand. We strongly recommend booking well in advance and notifying us as early as possible if your plans change during these periods.

Cancellation Policy — Room Bookings

Our Padagaya Dharamshala accommodation at Pithapuram is available to pilgrims and families visiting for rituals and temple darshan. Room bookings are subject to availability, especially during major pilgrimage seasons. The following refund schedule applies to all room cancellations:

Check-in time is 12:00 PM and check-out time is 11:00 AM. Early check-in or late check-out may be arranged subject to availability. If you need to extend your stay, please notify our team at least 24 hours in advance. For more information about our accommodation, visit our room booking page.

Cancellation Policy — Tour Packages

Our temple tour packages and sightseeing packages involve advance coordination with drivers, guides, and vehicle arrangements. Tour packages require more advance notice for cancellation than ritual services because transportation logistics must be confirmed earlier. The following refund schedule applies to all tour package cancellations:

For custom tour packages or multi-day itineraries, specific cancellation terms will be communicated at the time of booking. Please review these carefully before confirming your booking. View our temple tour packages.

How to Request a Refund

To cancel your booking and initiate a refund, please contact us through any of the following channels as early as possible. Make sure to have your booking reference number ready — this was included in the confirmation email sent from seva@padagaya.in at the time of booking.

Please include the following information in your cancellation request:

• Full name as provided at the time of booking
• Booking reference number (from your confirmation email)
• Date and type of service booked
• Reason for cancellation (optional but helpful)
• Preferred refund method if different from original payment

Refund Processing Timeline

Once your cancellation request is confirmed by our team, the refund will be initiated within 2 business days. The actual credit to your account depends on your payment method and bank. Here is what to expect:

• Refund initiation: Within 2 business days of confirmed cancellation
• Razorpay UPI / Wallet refunds: 1–3 business days after initiation
• Credit / debit card refunds: 5–7 business days after initiation
• Net banking refunds: 3–5 business days after initiation
• You will receive a refund confirmation email from Razorpay once processed
• Bank processing times vary — your bank may take an additional 1–3 days

If you have not received your refund within 10 business days of your cancellation confirmation, please contact us at seva@padagaya.in with your booking details and we will investigate promptly.

Non-Refundable Items

Certain costs are incurred by Padagaya at the time of booking confirmation and cannot be refunded regardless of when you cancel. These include items that are procured specifically for your ritual and cannot be returned or reused:

• Puja samagri (ritual materials) already purchased and dedicated for your ritual — including flowers, rice, sesame seeds, dakshina materials, and other offerings
• Services already rendered in full or in part, including rituals that have already commenced
• Custom arrangements made at your specific request — such as special priests, extra ritual items, or non-standard puja configurations
• Temple entry fees or archana fees paid on your behalf to the temple trust or devasthanam
• The 5% payment processing fee charged by Razorpay on the original transaction

We are transparent about these non-refundable costs at the time of booking. If you have questions about what materials will be purchased for your specific ritual, please ask before confirming your booking.

Rescheduling Policy

We understand that travel plans can change. Rather than cancelling, you may prefer to reschedule your ritual or room booking. Rescheduling is always preferable to cancellation because it ensures the ritual is performed at the correct time for your ancestors.

• Rescheduling requested 48+ hours before the original date: Free of charge, subject to availability
• Rescheduling requested 24–48 hours before: ₹500 rescheduling fee applies
• Rescheduling requested less than 24 hours before: Treated as a cancellation
• Rescheduling is subject to priest and muhurtam availability at your preferred new date
• During peak Pitru Paksha season, rescheduling may not always be possible — contact us early

Force Majeure — Acts Beyond Our Control

Sometimes circumstances beyond anyone's control prevent rituals or services from being delivered as planned. In such situations, Padagaya will always work in the devotee's best interest to ensure the ancestral duties are fulfilled.

Force majeure events include: natural disasters, floods, cyclones, earthquakes, government-mandated lockdowns or curfews, temple closures by the devasthanam or government, pandemics, civil unrest, or any other unforeseeable events that make service delivery impossible.

In the event of a force majeure cancellation initiated by Padagaya:

• We will offer a full credit for the entire booking amount, valid for 12 months
• We will offer a free rescheduling to any future date of your choice, subject to availability
• If you prefer a monetary refund, we will process it within 7 business days minus any non-refundable puja materials already procured
• We will notify you as early as possible — by WhatsApp, phone, and email — if a force majeure situation arises

Dispute Resolution

If you believe a refund has been incorrectly processed or denied, please reach out to our support team with your booking reference number and a detailed description of the issue. We will review your case within 3 business days and provide a written response.

All disputes arising from this refund policy are subject to the jurisdiction of courts in Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh, India. This policy is governed by the laws of India, consistent with our Terms & Conditions.