In Gayaji, the holy city of Lord Vishnu i.e. Mokshadham, the tradition of offering Pind Daan to ancestors has been going on since time immemorial. Pitru Paksha is for the peace and happiness of the departed souls, to seek forgiveness and to get rid of Pitra Dosh (ancestor’s curse). During this, rituals like Shradh, Tarpan and Pind Daan are performed. Such rituals are performed at Falgu River and after that special prayers are offered at Vishnupad Temple, Gaya. Administrative preparations have been started for the fair starting from 28 September this year. Cleaning of Gaya rubber dam, city ghats, roads, temples etc. has just been started to attract pilgrims. Along with this, the work of beautification is also being done.
54 altars survive
In ancient times, there used to be 365 pind altars and scenic spots in Gaya. Out of these 360 places were recognized as altar places. But due to lack of proper maintenance and encroachment, now only 54 altar places are safe in the city, where devotees coming from country and abroad are performing the rituals of Pindadan, Shraddhakarma and Tarpan with the wish of attaining peace and salvation of their forefathers’ souls.
Every year 10 to 15 lakh pilgrims visit Pitrupaksha fair.
It is also mentioned in many other Hindu religious texts including Narada Purana, Vayu Purana. By the way, people from all over the country and abroad have been coming here for Pinddaan. But especially in the month of Ashwin, the 17-day Pitrupaksha Mela has been organized at the international level for years. In recent years, 10 to 15 lakh pilgrims from India and abroad visit this fair.
Rule of offering Pind Daan on 360 altars
According to the Gaya Darpan book, in ancient times, there was a rule to donate pindas on 360 altars on the basis of the 360 phases of the moon every year. Classically, the expansion of Gaya has been considered in five kos i.e. 15 kilometers. These 360 altars were located in its different parts. At present their number has reduced to only 54. Many of these altars are yearning for renovation.
People of Panda community contact the pilgrims three months before
About three months before the start of the fair, the contact and communication between the panda community and their host starts. This time also contact has been started by Panda with his hosts. If the people of Panda community are to be believed, this year up to 15 lakh pilgrims can reach the Pitrupaksha fair. General Secretary of Teerth Vriti Sudharani Sabha, Manilal Barik told that after the construction of Gayaji Dam, Sita Bridge, in the last year 2022, more than 12 lakh Pinddanis have come here and performed the rituals of Pinddaan and Shraddhakarma for the purpose of attaining the salvation of their forefathers.
Fair starting from 28 September
The 17-day Pitrupaksha fair is starting from 28 September this time. This fair will end on 15 October. On different dates, there is a ritual of Pindadan, Shraddhakarma and Tarpan at different places. According to Pandit Bhanu Kumar Shastri, who is conducting the rituals of Pind Daan, shaving is considered prohibited in Gaya Shradh. He said that this is also described in Vayu Purana.
Crowd started increasing in Gaya after the start of Malmas
Since the beginning of Malmas, the crowd of Pinddaanis has started increasing rapidly in Pitrupaksha Mela areas. Pilgrims from different states of the country are completing the rituals of Pindadan, Shraddhakarma and Tarpan under the direction of their Kul Panda at Devghat, Gadadhar Ghat, Vishnupad Kshetra, Sita Kund and many other altar places on the banks of Falgu river with the wish of attaining peace and salvation of the souls of their forefathers.
Pinddan has special importance in Adhimas
In many other Hindu religious texts including Vayu Purana, the special importance of Pind Daan in Adhimas has been told. He said that not only the forefathers of the devotees who perform Pind Daan in Adhimas get Vaikunth Lok, but the devotees who perform the ritual of Pind Daan also receive the blessings of their ancestors.
Major attractions of Pitru Paksha fair
-
holy dip Devotees who come to Gayaji for the peace of their ancestors’ souls, perform all the rituals with utmost devotion, including taking a dip in the holy water of Falgu river.
-
Food offerings: People who have reached Pitrupaksha Mela make food offerings for their ancestors. In which there is generally lapsi, kheer, lentils, yellow gourd vegetable and rice. This food is made in copper or silver utensils. After this it is kept on dry leaves or banana leaves for the crow to eat. It is said that if the crow flies up and eats the food, the offering is accepted, as the bird is considered the messenger of the spirits of the ancestors or Yama. Apart from this, this food is also fed to the priest, dog and cow.
-
Worship in temples: There are many such ancient temples in the city of Gaya, for which people come from all over the country and abroad to worship. People who come during the Pitru Paksha fair worship the deities in these temples for the peace of the souls of their ancestors. This is done for the peace of the ancestors.
-
Shraddha Karma: Pind is offered to ancestors in Shraddha rituals. The ritual consists of standing in a river and releasing water from one’s hands, then worshiping Lord Vishnu and Lord Yama, the god of death, in the form of a gold effigy or Shaligram stone.
There is a ritual of Pind Daan at these altars.
-
September 28 (Bhadrapada Chaturdashi) – Punpun Pavpuja or Godavari Shradh.
-
September 29 (Bhadrapada Purnima) – Phalgu Snan Shraddha and worship of Kheer.
-
September 30 (Ashwin Krishna Paksha Pratipada date) – Pretshila, Brahmakund, Ramkund, Ramshila and Kagbali.
-
October 01 (Ashwin Krishna Paksha second date) – Panchamrit bath of Uttar Manas, Udichi, Kankhal, Dakshin Manas, Jivalol and Gadadhar ji.
-
02 October (Ashwin Krishna Paksha Tritiya Tithi) – Saraswati Snan and Pancharatna donation, Tarpan, Dharmaranya, Matangvapi, and Buddhist Darshan of Bodh Gaya.
-
03 October (Ashwin Krishna Paksha Chaturthi date) – Brahmasarovar Shradh, Kakabali Shradh, Tarak Brahma’s Darshan and Amrasinchan
-
October 04 (Ashwin Krishna Paksha Panchami Tithi) – Rudra pada, Brahma pada, Vishnupad Shraddha and foot worship in 16 altars located at Vishnupad.
-
October 05 (Ashwin Krishna Paksha Shashthi Tithi) – Kartik pada, Dakshinagnipada, Gaharpatyagni pada and Ahavanyagni pada in 16 altars.
-
October 06 (Ashwin Krishna Paksha Saptami Tithi) – Suryapad, Chandrapad, Ganeshpad, Sandhyagni pad, Avasandhyagni pad and Daghichi pad in 16 altars.
-
October 07 (Ashwin Krishna Paksha Ashtami date) – Matang Pad, Kraunch Pad, Indra Pad, Agastya Pad, Kashyap Pad, Gajkarna Pad, milk offering and food donation in 16 Vedi.
-
October 08 (Ashwin Krishna Paksha Navami date) – Ram Gaya Shradh, Sitakund (sand body), good luck donation and foot worship.
-
09 October (Ashwin Krishna Paksha Dashami date) – Gaya Sir, Gaya Koop (Tripindi Shraddha), Pitra and Pret Dosha Nivaran Shraddha.
-
October 10 (Ashwin Krishna Paksha Ekadashi date) – Munda Page Shradh (Adi Gaya) Dhautpad Shradh and silver donation.
-
October 11 (Ashwin Krishna Paksha Dwadashi date) – Bhim Gaya, cow promotion and Gada Lol Shradh.
-
October 12 (Ashwin Krishna Paksha Trayodashi date) – Panchamrit bath of Lord Vishnu, worship, milk offering and lamp donation in Falgu.
-
October 13 (Ashwin Krishna Paksha Chaturdashi date) – Vaitarani Shraddha, Tarpan and Godan.
-
October 14 (Ashwin Krishna Paksha Amavasya date) – Akshayavat Shraddha (Kheer Pind) Shayya Daan, Sufal and Pitra Visarjan.
-
October 15 (Ashwin Shukla Paksha Pratipada date) – Curd rice mass at Gayatri Ghat, Dakshina to Acharya and father’s farewell.