GAYA: Smita Thackeray on Tuesday performed ‘pind daan’ and ‘shraddh’ rituals for her father-in-law and Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray, as well as her father Madhukar Chitre, at the Vishnupad Temple here.Accompanied by her ‘acharya’ (priest), Thackeray performed ‘tarpan’, puja and other rituals amid Vedic chants. She was later blessed by Mohan Lal Barik, the Thackeray family’s priest in Gaya.Speaking after the ceremony, Thackeray said she had come to Gaya to pray for peace for Balasaheb Thackeray’s soul and seek forgiveness for any mistakes she may have committed towards him.She said she would try to follow the path shown by Balasaheb and work towards carrying forward Sanatan Dharma and his idea of a Hindu Rashtra.Thackeray said she was initially told that women do not perform ‘pind daan’, following which she sought clarification from acharyas. According to her, the acharyas cited the religious account of Mata Sita performing ‘pind daan’ for King Dasharatha.According to religious belief, performing ‘shraddh’ and ‘pind daan’ in Gaya helps ancestors attain salvation.The ongoing Pitru Paksha fair has attracted large numbers of devotees from across India and abroad. Devotees are visiting the Falgu river, Vishnupad Temple and various ‘pind vedis’ to perform rituals for their ancestors.(With agency inputs)
