Gaya (Bihar), Apr 01 (ANI): Hundreds of devotees in Gaya are having trouble in performing 'Pind Daan' ritual, as water scarcity hits the region at the onset of summer. The river Sukhi Falgu in Gaya, the major source of water in the area for holy rituals, has almost dried up due to the summer heat and lack of rains. Meanwhile, the locals are cashing in on the deficit by digging pits near the river to store its scant water and selling it to distressed devotees at high prices. Devotees visit Gaya to perform Pind Daan for their ancestors, a ritual intended to free the Atma (spirit) of the dead from the cycle of birth and death, that is supposed to be performed on a specific day as per the Hindu almanac. In Hindu mythology, the holy water of the Sukhi Falgu river, when used for this ritual, allows the souls of the dead to rest in peace. However, performing Pind Daan is proving difficult for devotees in Gaya due to the unavailability of water from the Falgu. Gaya is among the most prominent places in India where devotees perform Pind Daan.
