A large number of people gathered at the famous Maa Biraja Temple here to offer Pinda Daan to their forefathers on the occasion of Mahalaya on Tuesday. Many others also converged at the famous Dasasumedha Ghat on the bank of Baitarani river for the purpose.
As per belief, performing ‘Shraadh’ or ‘Pinda Daan’, a salvation ritual, on the Dasasumedha Ghat ensures salvation to the dead. People come here every year to perform this ritual for their ancestors or departed souls of their families to relieve them of all sins and help their souls attain peace. They take holy dips in the swallow water of the river as part of the ritual.
According to the Hindu philosophy the cycle of a soul (reincarnation) can be broken and the soul can be put to rest forever by performing ‘Pinda Daan’ or Shraadh, said Basant Das, a priest of the temple.