Vice-President performspinddaan rituals at Gaya

Gaya: Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar and his wife Sudesh Dhankhar performed ‘pinddaan’ at Vishnupad, Falgu and the Akshaywat on their maiden visit to Gaya on way to Nalanda on Friday.Earlier, Bihar governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar and state agriculture minister Kumar Sarvajeet welcomed the Vice- President at Gaya airport around 9am. Magadh division commissioner Mayank Warwade, IG police Kshatranil Singh, Gaya district magistrate Thiyagarajan SM were also present to receive the couple.From the airport, the V-P reached Vishnupad temple by road, where he offered prayers to Lord Vishnu in the sanctum sanctorum. Vishnupad Temple Management Committee (VTMC) president Shambhu Lal Vitthal said senior member of Gayapal panda samaj (local priest) and VTMC secretary Gajadhar Lal Pathak led the Dhankhars to perform the rituals. “As per tradition, the V-P offered ‘Brahman bhoj’ (meal offering) to 11 priests along with ‘dakshina’ and ‘clothes’ to them. On behalf of VTMC, a replica of the footprint of Lord Vishnu and Angwastra were presented to the V-P, who stayed at Vishnupad for nearly three hours,” Vitthal said. The DM informed the V-P regarding completion of ambitious projects near Vishnupad by the state government, including Gaya Ji dam, Maa Sita Path and making available the Gangajal to the pilgrims.

Pitripaksh: Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar to perform 'pinddaan' in Gaya

Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar will be visiting Gaya on Friday as part of the Pitrapaksh Mela. He is scheduled to interact with the students of Nalanda University during his visit to Nalanda. Dhankhar will also perform rituals at Vishnupad temple for the salvation of his ancestors. Tight security arrangements have been made for his visit, and traffic will be blocked on certain routes during his travel. On Saturday, women devotees from Russia and Ukraine will be performing "pinddaan" in Gaya.

Gaya DM flags off ambulances

Thirteen ambulances equipped with advanced life support systems have been flagged off in Gaya for the Pitripaksh Mela, along with the deployment of doctors, paramedical staff, and health workers. Food inspectors will also ensure the quality of food served to pilgrims. In addition, preparations for the mela include a mobile application for pilgrims, display boards near the Vishnupad temple, and a traffic plan. Basic amenities such as drinking water, sanitation, accommodation, and cleanliness are being prioritized. Ambulances and bike ambulances were also deployed for Ganesh visarjan.

Fortnight-long Pitripaksh Mela inaugurated in Gaya

The Pitripaksh Mela, a fortnight-long event, has begun in Gaya, Bihar, with over 15 lakh pilgrims expected to visit. The event was inaugurated by state revenue minister Alok Mehta and agriculture minister Kumar Sarvajeet. The district administration has set up a tent city to accommodate 2,500 pilgrims, and arrangements have been made for their convenience. The event not only holds spiritual importance but also contributes to the economy of the holy town by attracting more visitors. Pandit Dhirendra Shastri will be visiting the Vishnupad temple to perform rituals during his three-day visit to Gaya.

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