Gayaji: President Droupadi Murmu on Saturday became the first sitting Indian head to perform ancestral rites at the Vishnupad temple in Gayaji during the annual Pitru Paksha festival.
President Murmu, accompanied by family members, carried out the rituals at a specially prepared hall within the temple complex, under the guidance of priest Rajesh Lal Katariyari, who maintains records of families from her ancestral village of Uparbeda in Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district. The rites included offerings at both the Vishnupad temple and the sacred Phalgu Akshayavat tree, considered central to Hindu ancestral ceremonies.
Governor Arif Mohammad Khan received the president on her arrival but departed after accompanying her to the temple. Officials from Rashtrapati Bhavan also attended, with three rooms set aside in the complex for the presidential entourage.
Authorities imposed stringent security measures, including a ban on vehicular traffic from Dumuhan to Sikariya Mor. Large numbers of police personnel were deployed along key routes and near the temple to manage the flow of devotees and ensure safety.
The Pitru Paksha, a fortnight-long festival during which Hindus perform rituals to honour their ancestors, draws thousands of pilgrims to Gaya each year. President Murmu’s participation is being described by local priests as unprecedented in the city’s history.
“This is the first time a sitting president has visited to perform these rites,” said Katariyari. “It adds to the sanctity of the Pitru Paksha and the heritage of Gaya as a land of moksha [liberation].”
The president’s visit is expected to further raise the profile of the festival, which continues through the fortnight with ceremonies performed along the banks of the Phalgu river and at temples across the city.
