Gayaji: The annual Pitru Paksha Mahasangam opened in Gayaji on Saturday with thousands of devotees arriving from India and abroad to perform rituals for their ancestors.
The 17-day festival, considered one of the most significant Hindu observances, began with tarpan offerings at Punpun Ghat in Patna and the Godavari pond in Gayaji. On Sunday, pilgrims are set to take a ritual bath in the Falgu river before performing pind daan at Devghat and seeking blessings at the Vishnupad temple.
To accommodate the large number of visitors, authorities have set up a sprawling tent city at Gandhi Maidan in Gayaji. The site provides food, accommodation, and evening cultural programmes including bhajans. A new pind daan app has also been launched to allow pilgrims to register complaints or seek assistance directly.
Security has been tightened with heavy deployment of magistrates and police. The Falgu river is being cleaned with three boats, and permanent pandals have been built at major ghats. Mahavir Trust has arranged “Vishnu Rasoi” near Vishnupad temple to serve pilgrims.
Last year, around 22 lakh devotees attended the festival. Despite concerns that floods across several states may reduce the turnout this year, more than 40,000 pilgrims arrived on the first day, including groups from Russia, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Malaysia, Australia, the US, France, Kenya, and Mauritius.
The rituals will continue until September 22, concluding with tripakshik pind daan at Gayatri Ghat and blessings from the Gayapal.
