Muslims, Japanese join in Hindu ritual

“Pinda daan” is a sacred Hindu ritual in which people offer oblations in the memory of the departed ones. This year it was done during the auspicious period of “pitrapaksh” from September 3 to September 18.

While lakhs of pilgrims belonging to the Sanatan Hindu religion visited this holy place not only from all over India but even from neighbouring countries like Nepal and Bangladesh to offer “pinda” (so that their ancestors get “moksha”), the place had some unusual visitors too. Two Muslims, Mohammad Maqbool from Muzaffarpur district and Ahmad Ali from Chapra, reached Gaya to offer “pinda-daan” to their forefathers on the banks of the Falgu river.
More surprise was in store when two Japanese women, Yuko Masuda and Yuka Pisuda, reached Gaya to offer “pinda.”