Patna, (Bihar Times): The fortnight long Pitripaksha Mela, set to start from September 14, is likely to be a different sort of religious fair this year. Not only is it going to be a hi-tech affair, but the Bihar State Tourism Development Corporation has also offered attractive tour packages to the pilgrim-cum-tourists from all over the country and abroad.
The Gaya district administration has decided to introduce a new system to register complaints and suggestions of pilgrims coming to Mela through SMSes. The district magistrate of Gaya, Sanjay Kumar Singh, has asked the Telecom department officials to welcome pilgrims by SMS message on their cell phones.
About half a million Hindus from India and abroad are likely to converge to Gaya, Bodh Gaya and adjoining places to offer salvation to the dead souls of their relatives.
One can get all information about packages and facilities on FM radio from August 15. The district magistrate said that the publicity and announcement about Mela would be made on the FM radio. For the pilgrims from outside the state, the tourism department has planned to make information available at railway stations in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal.
A number will be displayed with the SMS for pilgrims to register their complaints and suggestions. All the SMSes will be recorded in the district control room. Besides, sealed complaint boxes would be placed at different places.
Health camps would be set up at 14 places including Gaya railway station, near Jail Press, Mofussil police station, Vishnupad Temple park, Ramshila More, Preetshila etc.
Apart from this the Bihar State Tourism Development Corporation will be offering tour package to the pilgrims so that they may not be fleeced by the Pandas and local middle-men. The BSTDC has tied up with a group of Pandas to offer Puja at a fixed price. It will also arrange tour of Bodh Gaya, Nalanda, Rajgir and Patna during the Pitrapaksha Mela.
There will be four tour packages for the Mela. While two to three days tours will originate from Benaras, Gaya and Patna the day-long trip to Gaya will begin from the state capital.
According to tourism secretary, Rashmi Verma, visits to the tourist spots and monuments in the Pitripaksha packages have been added to attract tourists from other states. They will definitely like to see Mahabodhi Temple, ruins of Nalanda University and other such places.
I went to Gaya in 2001 with my parents and stayed in Laxmi Nivas to do Pind-daan for my ancestors. The whole aura of the mela is great. I congratulate the administration for trying to uplift the Mela services. Please make the Ghats cleaner and make sure that there is water in the river. Another thing, the Vishnupad temple campus needs some taps which supply water directly from the river so that pilgrims do not have to run to the river on slippery stairs to get the water as the Pooja happens to be very water consuming. Hope Rashmi Verma will make a reputation even better than Rajbala Verma who did a lot for the Mela improvement and is highly revered person in that area.
I went with Babu ji and mummy and today Babu ji is no more with us in this world. I will go again to Gaya Ji to perform the Pooja that he did for his ancestors with the same respect and fondness. It is really hard to believe that he is no more with us whenever I think of Gaya-Shraddhh.
Ashish k. Yaduka
Indiana Office of Technology
Indianapolis, IN
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Response of the DM, Gaya
Thank you for your Comments Mr. Ashish K. Yaduka. This year Govt. of Bihar & District Administration Gaya is striving hard to make Pitripaksh Memorable for the pilgrims. We are taking special care for the improvement of religious water bodies. Water of different water bodies are being tested for its suitability for human beings. If any defect will be detected it will cleaned further. Your suggestions have been noted. We will try to improve the system.
Sanjay Kumar Singh,
District Magistrate, Gaya
Bihar.
e-mail Address - dm-gaya.bih.@nic.in
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Respected DM Sir,
I am a resident of Mohalla , Nadra Ganj(Brahmni Ghat) , but right now working as a Software Engineer in Pune from last one year.
I have seen the PITRIPAKSH mela from my childhood.
I would like to highlight one point regarding the same is the cleanliness of the road from Pitamaheshwar to Vishnu Pad mandir(via Brahmni Ghat) . As you know , this is the oldest root preferred by pilgrims and most of the pind ghats are situated alongside of the road.
The road does not get cleaned and also there is no regular cleanliness of the roads. It is always seen that , the water is coming out of drains and also the from the leakage of water pipes , which makes the road improper to walk. Apart from that , the sides of the road look like a savage garden.
Apart from that , there is no proper lighting system on the road. Sometimes , street lights work and sometimes doesn't.
I would like to request you regarding the cleanliness of the road by proper mechanism like keeping dustbins on several parts of the roads . And also , all the drains should be properly covered so that water does not come on the road.The water pipes should also be handled in a well manner.
Street lights should be checked on a weekly or daily basis.
Being , a gaya resident , I know the importance of this mela and the pride of our town associated to this.
Hope, all the suggestions will be kept in mind while doing the MELA preparations.
Prashant Sinha