Gaya, September 20 (Daily Kiran) : In Gaya, Bihar, the priests are raising their voices against the trend of online Pind Daan during the Pitripaksha festival. They argue that this practice undermines the sacred traditions and religious rituals rooted in Vedic customs. The priests claim that conducting Pind Daan through online platforms or packaged services is inappropriate and amounts to exploitation of devotees.
Gajadhar Lal Pathak, secretary of the Shri Vishnupad Management Committee, echoed these concerns, stating that there is no scriptural basis for online Pind Daan. He has been opposing this trend for several years. Dipu Ji Bhaiya, a prominent Gaya priest, emphasized that Pind Daan is a deeply Vedic ritual that cannot be fulfilled online.
He highlighted the significance of ‘Sufal’ in the traditional process, where priests bless devotees under the sacred Akshay Vat tree after performing the rituals. Dipu Ji questioned how devotees could receive these blessings if they do not physically come to Gaya. He argued that recognizing online arrangements as legitimate would undermine the essence of the religious process.
The connection between Gaya priests and their devotees has been longstanding, with many families returning for generations to perform Pind Daan through the same priests. Dipu Ji expressed concern that misleading practices by outsiders could confuse devotees and tarnish the traditional image of Gaya’s priestly system. He stressed that the sanctity of the Sanatan tradition should not be reduced to mere formalities or packaged services.
Senior priest Rajan Sijuwar also affirmed that the practice of Pind Daan in Gaya has been linked to the priests since ancient times. He noted that devotees perform Pind Daan at various altars after invoking their ancestors along the Falgu River. He warned that offering Pind Daan through hotels or other venues could disrupt the traditional pilgrimage structure.
During this Pitripaksha period, many websites are promoting online Pind Daan with various pricing packages, some claiming lower rates than traditional services. Rajan Sijuwar reiterated that Pind Daan should not be treated as a tourism package but as a matter of faith and religious duty. He called on the tourism department to reconsider these online offerings, ensuring that devotees are not exploited. The priests have warned of a collective movement to protect their traditional practices if the online booking and packaged services continue.
Tensions are rising in Gaya as the priests seek to preserve the sanctity of their rituals in the face of modern commercialization.
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