IANS

Patna, Sep 9: Over 200,000 Hindu devotees have come to Bihar's Gaya town to perform the 'pinda daan', a religious service for ancestors, in the first six days of the auspicious fortnight, officials said Wednesday.

"Till date more than two lakh devotees have performed the pinda daan. It was more than what we expected in view of the drought in several states across India," Gaya District Magistrate Sanjay Kumar Singh told IANS.

The district authorities said they estimate that as many as 400,000 devotees would come to Gaya to perform pinda daan during the pitrupaksh (the fortnight-long ancestor worship period as per Hindu custom).

Singh said that tight security arrangements had been made for devotees.

Special facilities have also been provided to devotees to perform the pinda daan.

Magadh Commissioner Sanjeev Sinha said: "This time we expect more than four lakh people will come to Gaya to offer pinda daan during the pitrupaksh period."

Hindus believe offering pinda daan during the pitrupaksh period ensures salvation for the souls of their ancestors.

"The soul keeps wandering till this ritual is performed by male descendants of the dead," priest Murari Lal said.

Gaya is about 100 km from state capital Patna.