States » EastPosted at: Sep 25 2026 6:42PM


CM calls for better facilities for Pitru Paksha pilgrims

Gaya, Sep 25 (UNI) Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary today said providing better facilities to pilgrims arriving in Gaya from across India and abroad for the Pitru Paksha Mela was a priority of the state government.
The Chief Minister visited Gaya on the occasion of the religious fair, offered prayers at the Vishnupad Temple and prayed for the prosperity and well-being of the state. He also inspected Dev Ghat and reviewed the arrangements being made for pilgrims.
Choudhary said a large number of devotees from different parts of the country and abroad visit Gaya during Pitru Paksha to perform pind daan and tarpan for their ancestors. He directed officials to ensure that pilgrims receive adequate facilities and return from Gaya with a positive experience.
Emphasising Bihar''s tradition of 'Atithi Devo Bhava', the Chief Minister said pilgrims and visitors attending the Pitru Paksha Mela should be welcomed with dignity, warmth and respect.
He instructed officials to ensure proper arrangements at the ghats and accommodation facilities, besides maintaining adequate drinking water, sanitation, security and other essential services.
The Chief Minister also inaugurated a tent city set up for pilgrims during the Pitru Paksha Mela.
Addressing the gathering after the inauguration, Choudhary described Pitru Paksha as a unique festival in Sanatan tradition.
He said devotees from across India and other parts of the world come to the sacred land of Gaya to perform rituals for their ancestors.
He said the state government was making extensive arrangements to facilitate pilgrims during the festival at both Punpun and Gaya.
Choudhary said the Tourism Department and other concerned departments had been instructed to work with full preparedness to provide services to visitors.
Technology and mobile applications are also being used to assist pilgrims arriving from different states, with information being made available in multiple languages.
He said facilities in Gaya were being expanded continuously in view of the growing number of pilgrims. The Chief Minister said the Centre and state governments would jointly spend Rs 3,500 crore on the development of the Vishnupad Corridor, including Rs 2,500 crore specifically for corridor development. He described it as one of the largest projects undertaken so far for the development of a temple in the state.
Highlighting the government''s broader development agenda, Choudhary said industrial development was also being accelerated in Bihar. An Integrated Manufacturing Cluster is being established in Bodh Gaya, he said, adding that industrial investments worth around Rs 20,000 crore are expected to begin materialising from October this year. According to the Chief Minister, these investments would create new opportunities for employment and economic activity.
He also said work was underway on a project costing around Rs 1,000 crore to bring water from the Sone river to the Phalgu river. Through agreements relating to the sharing of Son river water and other water-resource arrangements, the government aims to improve irrigation and water availability in Gaya and surrounding areas, he said.
On air connectivity, Choudhary said Gaya Airport was among Bihar''s important airports and that the government was working to strengthen air connectivity through Patna, Gaya, Darbhanga and Purnea airports.
He said efforts were also being made to connect Gaya with major international destinations, including Indonesia, Bangkok and the Gulf countries. Strengthening international air connectivity, he said, would benefit not only pilgrims arriving from India and abroad but also tourism and economic activities in the region.
The Chief Minister also spoke about measures to improve the state''s education system. He said schools were being upgraded and initiatives such as model schools, online classes and the 'Vidyarthi Saathi' app were being used to provide students with modern and quality education.
On women''s economic empowerment, Choudhary said extensive work was being carried out through JEEViKA. The state has set a target of creating one crore 'Lakhpati Didis', with around 43 lakh women having already achieved the status, he said.
Appealing to the people of Bihar, the Chief Minister urged residents to collectively welcome pilgrims and visitors arriving in Gaya during Pitru Paksha with warmth and respect. He said the people of Gaya and Bihar should work together to provide visitors with an experience reflecting the state''s rich culture, traditions and hospitality.
During the programme, Choudhary released a special postal envelope issued by the Department of Posts on the occasion of Pitru Paksha. He also released the book 'Pachan Teerth Gayaji', authored by members of the Panda community, and unveiled a Gayaji Dham angavastram produced by weavers from Manpur''s Patwa Toli.
Union Minister for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises and Gaya MP Jitan Ram Manjhi, along with Health Minister Nishant, also addressed the gathering. UNI RS SAS
Tags: #CM calls for better facilities for Pitru Paksha pilgrims
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