Bihars Gaya Sees Surge in Pilgrims During Pitripaksha Festival

Gaya, September 29 (Daily Kiran) : The Pitripaksha festival in Gaya, a city revered for its spiritual significance, is drawing large crowds of pilgrims from across the country. On Tuesday alone, an impressive 380,600 devotees arrived to perform rituals at various sacred sites, including Pretshila, Ramshila, Sitakund, Devghat, and the Vishnupad temple.

Since the festival began, the total number of visitors has reached 1,265,800, including those performing pind daan and other religious rites. According to local beliefs, performing these rituals along the banks of the Falgu River and at designated shrines grants peace and liberation to the souls of ancestors. This deep-rooted faith attracts many to Gaya during this auspicious period.

To ensure the safety and comfort of the pilgrims, local authorities have implemented extensive facilities, including medical services, accommodations, and transportation assistance. On Tuesday, 12,098 pilgrims utilized medical treatment services, bringing the total to 40,908 since the start of the festival. Special attention is given to the elderly and disabled, with 76 individuals receiving wheelchair assistance on Tuesday alone.

Additionally, the lost-and-found service successfully reunited 95 individuals with their families, contributing to a total of 225 reunions since the festival commenced. The control room set up in the fair area received 249 complaints on Tuesday, with a cumulative total of 791 since the festival began. In the tent city at Gandhi Maidan, 1,017 people accessed accommodation services, with a total of 3,032 pilgrims having stayed there thus far. Distribution of Ganga water is also ongoing, with 4,133 packets handed out on Tuesday, totaling 12,581 packets distributed.

In an effort to promote environmental conservation, the “One Tree for Ancestors” campaign has seen the planting of 49 saplings on Tuesday, bringing the total to 156. To help prevent children and seniors from getting lost in the crowd, wristbands are being provided, with 1,200 issued on Tuesday and a total of 1,721 since the initiative began.

To address language barriers, an AI-based translation service is available, assisting 10,495 travelers on Tuesday alone, and 22,975 in total since the festival started.