Gaya, Sept 20,(ANI): Devout Hindus converged on the banks
of sacred river Falgu in India's eastern Bihar state to
perform 'Pitru Paksha' as they paid homage to their
ancestors and prayed for the salvation of their souls
especially through food offerings. The devotees offered
prayers and performed religious rituals on the banks of the
river at the holy city of Gaya. Pitr-paksha generally falls
in the month of September or October every year. According
to traditional belief, the eldest son of a family performs
Pind Daan and pays homage to their ancestors. The devotees
also get their heads tonsured as a part of the ritual for
the departed souls. The food is usually cooked in silver or
copper vessels and placed on banana leaves. Devotees
believe that once the ritual is performed, the souls of
their ancestors shall be relieved of all the sins and they
would be freed from the cycle of birth and death.
