Patna: With lakhs of pilgrims expected to arrive in Gaya for the annual Pitripaksh Mela, the Bihar tourism department is preparing accommodation and other facilities for the religious event scheduled from Sept 25 to Oct 10.Tourism secretary Lokesh Kumar Singh on Tuesday directed officials to complete preparations on time. The Bihar State Tourism Development Corporation (BSTDC) is setting up a 2,500-bed tent city, besides a temporary tourist information centre and a dedicated helpline to assist pilgrims with information on accommodation, transportation and other services.According to a tourism department press release, a ‘maha aarti’ will be organised on the banks of the Falgu river during the mela. E-rickshaws will be operated to facilitate pilgrims’ movement, while trained tourist guides will be deployed at tourist information centres and other key locations.“Information and directional facilities will also be arranged at major religious and tourist sites. ‘Toran’ gates will be installed and brochures containing details about Pitripaksh and facilities available to pilgrims will be distributed,” the release said. BSTDC is also working on travel packages and an e-pind daan facility for devotees, it said.For the first time, the tourism department is organising an influencer contest, ‘Pitripaksh Mela: Ek influencer ki nazar se’, to promote the event on social media and highlight Bihar’s cultural and tourism attractions.The tourism secretary said Gaya was not only a major centre of religious faith but also an important repository of Bihar’s ancient civilisation, culture and spiritual heritage.The department is also expediting construction of a 1,000-bed Gayaji Dharamshala, estimated to cost around Rs120 crore. The project is being implemented through the Bihar Rajya Pul Nirman Nigam Ltd.Under the Mukhyamantri Homestay Protsahan Yojana, Vishnupad temple, Mahabodhi temple, Dungeshwari temple and Gurpa Hill have been included. Eligible beneficiaries can receive financial assistance of up to Rs11 lakh, aimed at promoting local employment and encouraging longer tourist stays in the region.
