Patna, September 24: Punpun Ghat in Patna is preparing for the 17-day Pitru Paksha Mela, which will begin on September 25 and continue until October 10. The annual gathering is associated with pind daan and tarpan rituals performed for departed ancestors.
Preparations are underway at the ghat and surrounding areas ahead of the expected arrival of thousands of devotees. According to local religious tradition, Punpun is regarded as an important site for ancestral rituals during Pitru Paksha.
Up To 40,000 Devotees Expected
According to Tarini Mishra, a priest from Punpun market, around 35,000–40,000 devotees are expected to visit the site during the 17-day period.
Devotees are expected from Bihar as well as Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, West Bengal and Jharkhand. People from neighbouring Nepal are also expected to travel to Punpun for pind daan and other ancestral rituals.
According to the religious beliefs associated with the site, devotees take a ritual bath before performing pind daan and tarpan for the peace and salvation of their ancestors.
Rituals And Puja Materials
Several items are traditionally used during pind daan and tarpan ceremonies at Punpun.
These include betel leaves, flowers and garlands, panchmeva, makhana, fruits, cow’s milk, earthen lamps and cups, curd and leaf plates.
For rituals involving a husband and wife, an asana and ritual altar are prepared using items such as turmeric, rice and abir. Some devotees also perform sejiya daan during the ancestral rites.
15-Day Pind Daan Can Cost Rs 25,000–30,000
According to the local priest, devotees who perform pind daan for 15 days generally spend around Rs 25,000–30,000.
The expenditure can vary depending on the rituals performed, the duration of stay, accommodation, food and other arrangements made by individual families.
Accommodation For More Than 200 People
The main pind daan site covers approximately 2.94 acres and has temples dedicated to Lord Shiva and Goddess Durga, besides a dharamshala.
Additional arrangements are made during Pitru Paksha to accommodate the rise in visitors.
A government tent is set up every year for devotees arriving from outside the area. It has reported accommodation capacity for more than 200 people. Local arrangements are also being made around the fair site.
How To Reach Punpun Ghat
Punpun is connected to Patna by road and rail, with the pind daan site located approximately 10–15 km from Patna.
For devotees travelling from Gaya, Punpun is around 85–90 km away and can be reached by road or rail. Punpun and Punpun Ghat are among the nearby railway stations.
Devotees travelling from other parts of the country can reach Patna or Gaya airport before continuing their journey to Punpun by road or rail.
With preparations underway, Punpun Ghat is expected to see a significant increase in footfall during the Pitru Paksha period, with up to 40,000 devotees expected over the 17-day mela.
