'Pind Daan' in Gaya: Foreigners seek salvation of their ancestors' souls
Patna, Sep 8 (IANS) They are not Hindus, not even Indians. They all are from various foreign lands, visiting India as tourists; yet they are performing the Hindu ritual of Pind Daan , like lakhs of other Hindus, in the pilgrim town of Gaya in Bihar. Every year during "Pitrapaksh" -- the 15-day lunar period as per the Hindu calendar, falling immediately after "Anant Chaturdashi" or "Ganesh Visarjan" -- Hindus descend on this pilgrim town to perform the Pind Daan ritual for salvation of their ancestors' souls. A group of 18 foreign tourists, mostly from Germany, Spain and Russia, offered Pind Daan on Friday in Gaya, about 100 km from state capital Patna, much to the surprise of thousands of Hindu pilgrims gathered here from across the country, a district administration official said. "They performed Pind Daan in Gaya for their family and ancestors and expressed their amazing experiences," said an official. They will stay in Ga...