Gaya: On the third day of the ongoing fortnight-long Pitripaksh, thousands of devotees performed pind daan at Uttari Manas, Dakshini Manas, Udichi, Jihwalol and Kankhal pind vedis on Monday, as the heavy pilgrim rush continued for the ongoing spiritual event.More than 4.6 lakh pilgrims had arrived in Gaya by Sunday, according to data recorded by electronic foot-counting machines installed at Vishnupad, Sita Kund, Ramshila, Pretshila and other pind vedis.Senior Gayapal panda Gajadhar Lal Katariyar said pilgrims traditionally begin the third day’s rituals at Uttari Manas before proceeding to Dakshini Manas. “They are expected to maintain silence while travelling between the two vedis. It is traditionally believed that performing pinddaan here with devotion helps the departed soul attain liberation from the cycle of birth and death,” he said.In view of the heavy footfall, the district administration has restricted vehicular movement from Chand Chauraha and Bengali Ashram towards Vishnupad to avoid congestion. With the pilgrim turnout expected to remain high throughout the fortnight-long mela, managing traffic in the densely populated areas around Vishnupad remains a key challenge for the administration and police.However, locals complained that they were not being allowed to take even their two-wheelers on the restricted stretch to reach home.Rakesh Kumar, who lives in a residential colony in the Maranpur area, said, “After dropping my child at his school on my bike, I was stopped by the police personnel on duty, which compelled me to park the bike near a shop at my own risk.”Meanwhile, district magistrate Shashank Shubhankar and senior superintendent of police Sushil Kumar inspected Matangavapi, Dharmaranya and Saraswati vedis in Bodh Gaya on Monday to review arrangements for pilgrims.
