Gaya Pitrapaksha Mela in Bihar is the ancestor worship typified in Sraddha ritual. The tradition can be traced back to the time of Buddha who, according to the belief, performed the first pindan here. Puranic legend assigns Gaya as one of the holiest spots of the world. The Asura, named Gaya grew so powerful that the gods felt threatened and decided to eliminate him. As a precondition to his death, the Asura demanded that be should be buried in the holiest spot of the world. This place is Gaya.
Features:
It is mentioned in the early Dharmasastras that Vishnu provided a list of over 50 tirthas. But it is proclaimed that dead ancestors pray to God for a son who would offer pinda or lymph of rice to them at Gaya.
Gaya Pitrapaksha Mela is held in the month of September.
Gayalis prepare for the Vedic Sraddha ceremonies or the pindan. They are the descendants of Magga Brahmans who were once devotees of Shiva but later converted to Vaishnavism.
It is a mandatory Hindu rite which is supposed to bring salvation to the departed soul.
Season
September is the month when the Gaya Pitrapaksha Mela is held
How to Reach
By Air
Bihar has an airport in its capital city Patna, which is connected by air with Delhi, Mumbai, Lucknow, Kolkata.
By Rail
The train services of Indian Railways connect several places of Bihar to the other major cities.
By Road
Internal road network within the state connects Patna to other tourist destinations of Bihar and also to other cities of India.
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