Fortnight-long Hindu ritual of ‘Pinddan’ begins in Bihar

PATNA: The fortnight-long Pitripaksha Mela, an annual ritual of the Hindus seeking salvation of the dead from the recurrent cycle of rebirth, started in Gaya district of Bihar today amid tight security arrangement.

More than two million Hindus are expected to descend on Gaya during the fortnight-long ritual which will come to an end on September 30.

As part of strict rituals, the pilgrims pay visits to as many as 54 religious spots, some even located on the top of steep hills, and offer prayers for salvation of their ancestors.

More than 25,000 pilgrims have already in the city and taken shelters in various rest houses or dharmsalas.

However, the major challenger before the local administration is to maintain hygiene in the city given the last week flooding which caused water-logging in many localities and also flooded the Falgu river bed which has been the main spot for offering Pinddan.

The authorities have launched new application this time to keep the visitors informed and at the same time get them in touch with the administration if they faced any problems.

The administration has already launched free Wi-Fi service and introduced Android application to help the pilgrims.

Legend has it that Lord Rama and his wife Sita too had performed this religious ritual for their father King Dashratha on the bank of Falgu which flows by the pilgrimage city.