Pilgrims Flock to Aurangabads Punpun Ghat for Ancestor Worship

Aurangabad, September 30 (Daily Kiran) : A remarkable spiritual gathering is underway at the historic Punpun Ghat in Aurangabad, Bihar. Thousands of devotees from across the country and abroad are flocking to the banks of the Punpun River, known as the Adi Ganga, to participate in the 15-day Pitru Paksha festival. Many are performing Pind Daan, a ritual aimed at bringing peace and salvation to their ancestors before heading to Gaya.

Priests at the ghat explained that Pitru Paksha is observed from the new moon day of the Ashwin month. During this period, special rituals are conducted to honor the deceased and ensure their souls attain a better afterlife. The Punpun Ghat serves as a significant site for these rites, where devotees perform Shradh, Tarpan, and Pind Daan before continuing to Gaya. It is believed that these acts help ancestors find peace and bring prosperity to their descendants.

According to local tradition, the scriptures recount 45 sacred sites, with five being particularly notable: Sita Kund, Falgu Tirth, Vishnu Pad, Pret Shila, and the Adi Ganga Punpun. One scholar mentioned that it is widely believed that ancestors wander the earthly realm without finding liberation. Performing Pind Daan at Gaya is said to grant them salvation. The Garuda Purana emphasizes the importance of sons performing these rites for their parents to free themselves from ancestral debts.

A pilgrim from Satna, Madhya Pradesh, shared, “We have come to perform Pind Daan for our father. Our ancestors tell us that without Pind Daan at Punpun, the rituals in Gaya remain incomplete. This is a significant belief in Hinduism.” Another devotee from Gwalior stated, “Following the traditions passed down by our elders, we are here to offer prayers and water to ensure the peace of our ancestors’ souls. I am here to perform the rites for my father-in-law, mother-in-law, and grandfather-in-law.”

One woman mentioned that she traveled to Punpun with her son to perform the rites for her husband.

According to Hindu scriptures, the Adi Ganga Punpun is considered the first sacred site in the Magadh region for Pind Daan. It is believed that Lord Rama performed these rites for his ancestors during the Treta Yuga. Similarly, after the Mahabharata war, the Pandavas also came to Gaya to perform Pind Daan for their ancestors and fallen kin. This tradition has continued uninterrupted to this day.

The Vayu Purana and Padma Purana also detail Lord Rama’s Pind Daan in Gaya, noting that he and Sita were the first to perform these rites at the Adi Ganga Punpun. Afterward, they rested in the mountain range known today as Sita Thapa. It is believed that the imprints of Sita’s hands can still be seen there, attracting hundreds of devotees who come to pay their respects. This site is located in the Madanpur block of Aurangabad district, from where Lord Rama set off for Gaya the following day.