Tribes of the Nicobar Islands pay their respects to the departed soul of the head of the family during the ______ .

The correct option is Ossuary Feast.

The Ossuary Feast is a traditional, sacred ritual celebrated by the indigenous Nicobarese tribe of the Nicobar Islands. During this ceremony, the family members pay their respects to the departed soul of the head of the family.

During the ritual, the bones of the deceased family members are disinterred, cleaned with coconut water and oil, wrapped in cloth, and reburied or placed in a community ossuary. The festival also involves community dining, dancing, and pig fights, which serve to strengthen kinship bonds and appease the ancestral spirits.

Let us look at the other options to understand why they are incorrect:
- Jagaddhatri Puja: A Hindu festival dedicated to the goddess Jagaddhatri, celebrated predominantly in West Bengal.
- Ganjan Festival: A traditional folk festival associated with Lord Shiva, celebrated in West Bengal and parts of Odisha.
- Kalpataru Utsav: An annual festival celebrated by the followers of the Ramakrishna Mission on January 1st to commemorate the day Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa revealed himself as a wish-fulfilling tree (Kalpataru).