Gaya: The world-famous Pitru Paksha fair is underway in Gayaji, Bihar. Amidst the world-famous Pitru Paksha fair, President Draupadi Murmu arrived in Gayaji, the land of salvation, today. President Draupadi Murmu performed the Pind Daan ritual, praying for the salvation of her two sons, her husband, her father, and seven other clans. Afterward, she visited the feet of Lord Vishnu.
President Draupadi Murmu will arrive in Gayaji today: Security arrangements in Gayaji were tightened for President Draupadi Murmu’s arrival. The district administration deployed police forces at every corner.
The account books of her ancestral village are with the priest: President Draupadi Murmu’s ancestral village is Upar Beda village, located in Mayurganj, Odisha. Rajesh Lal Katariar, the priest for President Draupadi Murmu’s ancestors, holds the account book of the Pind Daan offerings from Upar Beda village.
For the first time, a President is visiting to perform Pind Daan: For the first time in history, Her Excellency Draupadi Murmu, while holding the office of President, performed the Pind Daan (Shraddha) ritual for her ancestors. No President has ever performed the Pind Daan ritual while in office.
Zail Singh visited Gayaji while serving as President: Giani Zail Singh visited Gayaji while serving as President and visited Gayaji. Furthermore, R. Venkataraman, while serving as Vice President, also visited Gayaji and performed Pind Daan.
What does the President’s Gayapal Panda say?: Rajesh Lal Katariar, the Gayapal Panda from President Draupadi Murmu’s village, said that President Draupadi Murmu came to perform Shraddha during the Pitru Paksha fair. I am the priest for her ancestors. President Draupadi Murmu performed the Pind Daan Shraddha rituals at Vishnupad, Phalgu, and Akshayavat. A large number of people from the President’s ancestral village, Beda, have come here to perform Pind Daan.
I have the account book of President Draupadi Murmu’s ancestral village, which contains complete information about the Pind Daan participants and their ancestors. We are pleased that this is the first time President Draupadi Murmu has performed the Pind Daan Shraddha rituals in Gayaji while holding the office of President. It was I who performed the Gaya Shraddha rituals. No one has ever come to Gaya during the Pitru Paksha Mela or any other period while holding the office of President.” – Rajesh Lal Katariyar, Gayapal Panda
Today is the 14th day of Gaya Shraddha: The world-famous Pitru Paksha Mela in Gayaji, Bihar, is in its 15th day, which is also the 14th day of Gaya Shraddha. On this day, there is a special ritual of offering tarpan and donating cows at the Vaitarani Lake. It is believed that bathing and offering tarpan at the Vaitarani altar on this day brings salvation to the 21 families of the person who performed the Pind Daan.
