BREAKING NEWS : ACCOMMODATION FACILITY FOR DEVOTEES AT A 2,500-BED TENT CITY DURING GAYA JI PITRUPAKSHA FAIR

• A special Tent City has been set up by the Tourism Department in Gaya Ji.
• Tourist information centers and guides have been arranged in the fair area.
• A Tourism Information Center has been built at Punpun in Patna.
• The significance of Pind Daanand Tarpanwill be showcased through a laser show at Punpun.
• Continuous bookings are being made for special packages by Bihar State Tourism Development Corporation for Pitrupaksha.
• The Pitrupaksha Fair is being organized between 6th September to 21st September.

TTT NEWS NETWORK

PATNA|6 SEPTEMBER 2025

Every year, according to the Hindu calendar, Pitrupaksha begins on Anant Chaturdashi of the bright fortnight of the month of Bhadrapada. This grand confluence is considered extremely significant from religious, mythological, and historical perspectives. A large number of devotees, rooted in Sanatan Dharma traditions, arrive in Gaya Ji to perform Pind Daan (ritual offerings) for the liberation and peace of their ancestors. At holy sites such as the Vishnupad Temple, Falgu River, Akshay Vat, and other sacred places, devotees perform rituals with great reverence.

According to belief, after death, a person’s soul continues to wander in this material world. While the body perishes, the soul is immortal. If the family performs Pind Daan, the soul is liberated from worldly bonds and attains freedom forever. Scriptures also describe that without the proper ritual of Pind Daan, the soul remains tied to this world. Therefore, performing Pind Daan in Gaya Ji is believed to open the path for the soul’s journey to heaven. The uniqueness of Pind Daan in Gaya Ji is that, apart from the Vishnupad Temple, sacred rituals for liberation of the soul are conducted at places like the Falgu River and Akshay Vat.

Pind Daan can be performed in Gaya Ji throughout the year. However, it is considered especially meritorious during the 15-day Pitrupaksha period, or on the last day, fifth day, third day, or Ekadashi of the dark fortnight of any month. During the Pitrupaksha Fair, lakhs of devotees from across India and abroad visit Gaya Ji for this ritual. The process of Pind Daan is simple—even those without much material can perform it by offering water while standing in a river or making a clay ball with devotion. In ancient times, 360 pilgrimage spots in Gaya Ji were recognized for Pind Daan. Today, the main sites include Vishnupad Temple, Akshay Vat, Falgu River, Punpun River, Ramshila, Pretshila, Brahmayoni Hill, Dak Bungalow area, etc.

To make the Pitrupaksha Fair (6–21 September) memorable, the Tourism Department, Government of Bihar, has set up a 2,500-bed Tent City at Gandhi Maidan, Gaya Ji, with basic amenities. Trained tourist guides have been appointed to provide 24-hour information and assistance to pilgrims. A Tourist Assistance Center has been established at Gaya Ji Railway Station, along with a permanent Tourism Information Center. Additionally, a Tourism Information Center has been set up at Punpun in Patna to ensure devotees performing Pind Daan and Tarpan face no inconvenience. A laser show will also be organized at Punpun to showcase the significance of these rituals.

The Bihar State Tourism Development Corporation has announced special packages for Pitrupaksha, which are receiving strong interest from people across the country. So far, 15 travelers have already booked the Pitrupaksha package, and bookings continue to flow in.