When families enquire about Narayan Bali
Families usually come to this rite on the advice of a priest or astrologer, often when a death was sudden or unusual, or when they feel the rites for a family member were incomplete. Whether it is appropriate in your case is for the purohit to advise after hearing the circumstances — please share them openly; they are kept private.
How it is usually performed
In common practice, the departed is represented symbolically and the shraddha rites that may have been missed are performed for them, with worship of Lord Vishnu and offerings including pinda daan. The rite is longer than an ordinary shraddha and follows a set sequence that the purohit explains as it proceeds.
Narayan Bali is widely performed at tirthas such as Trimbakeshwar. At Siddhpur, ask us how the rite is arranged, how long it takes, and whether any part spans more than one day.