Gaya Ji Pind Daan & Pitrapaksha Mela

Gaya is India's foremost site for Pind Daan — the Hindu ritual of offering homage to departed ancestors. During the annual Pitrapaksha Mela, lakhs of pilgrims gather to perform Shraddha at the Falgu river and worship at the historic Vishnupad Temple, making it one of the most significant ancestral-rite pilgrimages in the country.

Gaya Ji holds a unique place in Hindu tradition as the supreme site for Pind Daan, the ritual of offering pind (rice balls) and prayers to liberate the souls of one's ancestors. Devotees believe that performing Shraddha here grants moksha to the departed.

During the Pitrapaksha Mela, a roughly sixteen-day period in September–October, the city fills with pilgrims:

• Pind Daan at the Falgu (Phalgu) river — the central ritual, performed at multiple sacred ghats.
• Vishnupad Temple — an 18th-century riverside temple enshrining a footprint said to be Lord Vishnu's.
• Panch Tirtha, Sita Kund and other sacred sites among Gaya's many ritual spots.

• By Air: Gaya International Airport (10 km) has domestic and seasonal international flights; Patna Airport (110 km) has more options.
• By Rail: Gaya Junction is a major station on the Delhi–Kolkata route, well connected across India.
• By Road: Gaya is well linked by NH-83 and other highways; buses, taxis and autos serve the temple and ghats.

The Pitrapaksha Mela falls in September–October each year (a roughly sixteen-day period). Vishnupad Temple can be visited year-round; October–March is most comfortable.