Devotees offer pind-daan as fortnight long Pitripaksha Mela starts

Patna,(BiharTimes): Thousands of Hindu pilgrims from India and abroad gathered on the banks of river Falgu in Gaya to offer pind-daan on Thursday for the salvation of the souls of their ancestors. This especial worship is performed during a fortnight long Pitripaksha Mela.

The devotees also got their heads tonsured as a part of the ritual for the departed souls of their near and dear ones. On this occasion food is usually cooked in silver or copper vessels and placed on banana leaves.

Pilgrims are supposed to offer pind-daan at 52 vedis spread all over the district.

Special fooding, lodging and sanitation arrangements have been made in the town as it is expected that half a million pilgrims may offer pind-daan in the fortnight long period this year.