Patna, September 2026: Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary on Thursday visited Gaya on the occasion of the Pitripaksha Mela and offered prayers at the Vishnupad Temple, seeking peace, prosperity and well-being for the people of the state. He also inspected Deva Ghat and reviewed arrangements being made for pilgrims.
The Chief Minister said a large number of pilgrims from across India and abroad visit Gaya during Pitripaksha. Ensuring that all visiting pilgrims receive better facilities and return with a pleasant experience is a priority of the government. He said Bihar has a long-standing tradition of “Atithi Devo Bhava” and pilgrims and visitors attending the Pitripaksha Mela should be welcomed with utmost respect and warmth.
Choudhary directed officials to ensure better arrangements for accommodation, drinking water, sanitation, security and other essential facilities at the mela.
On the occasion, the Chief Minister also inaugurated a tent city set up for the Pitripaksha Mela. Addressing the gathering, he said the Pitripaksha Mela is a unique festival in Sanatan culture that reflects श्रद्धा, respect and gratitude towards ancestors. Devotees from across the country and abroad come to the sacred land of Gaya to perform pind daan and tarpan.
He said the state government has made comprehensive arrangements to provide better facilities to pilgrims. During the Pitripaksha period, necessary arrangements are being made for devotees at various locations in Gaya and Bodh Gaya. The Tourism Department and other concerned departments have been directed to work with full preparedness to facilitate pilgrims.
The Chief Minister said technology and apps are also being used to facilitate devotees arriving from different states, while arrangements have been made to provide information in their respective languages. In view of the increasing number of pilgrims, facilities in Gaya are being continuously expanded.
Rs 3,500 Crore Vishnupad Corridor Project
Choudhary said the Centre and the state government would jointly spend a total of Rs 3,500 crore on the development of the Vishnupad Corridor, including Rs 2,500 crore proposed specifically for the corridor. He described it as one of the largest projects undertaken so far for the development of a temple in the state.
He also highlighted efforts to accelerate industrial development in Bihar. An Integrated Manufacturing Cluster (IMC) is being established at Bodh Gaya to promote industries. Industrial investments worth around Rs 20,000 crore are expected to begin taking shape on the ground from October this year, creating new opportunities for employment and economic activity in the state.
Work is also underway on a project costing around Rs 1,000 crore to bring water from the Sone River to the Phalgu River. Through agreements related to the sharing of Sone River water and water resources, irrigation and water availability in Gaya and adjoining areas will be improved.
Gaya Airport Connectivity to Be Expanded
The Chief Minister said Gaya Airport is among the major airports in Bihar. Air connectivity in the state is being strengthened through airports at Patna, Gaya, Darbhanga and Purnea.
He said the government is also working to connect Gaya by air with major destinations across the world, including Indonesia, Bangkok and Gulf countries. Strengthening Gaya’s air connectivity will benefit not only domestic and international pilgrims visiting the city but also tourism and economic activities, he said.
Choudhary also highlighted measures being taken to improve the education system in the state. Schools are being upgraded, while initiatives such as model schools, online classes and the ‘Vidyarthi Saathi’ app are being used to provide students with modern and quality education.
He said extensive efforts are also being made through the Jeevika programme for the economic empowerment of women. The state has set a target of creating one crore ‘Lakhpati Didis’, with around 43 lakh women having already achieved the status.
The Chief Minister appealed to the people of Bihar to jointly welcome all pilgrims and visitors arriving in Gaya during the Pitripaksha Mela with respect and warmth and provide them with an enriching experience of Bihar’s rich culture, traditions and hospitality.
He said the people of Gaya and Bihar should collectively extend hospitality and welcome to pilgrims arriving from across the country and abroad.
Special Postal Cover and Book Released
During the programme, the Chief Minister unveiled a special postal cover issued by the Department of Posts on the occasion of the Pitripaksha Mela. He also released the book ‘Panch Tirth Gaya’, written by the Panda community.
Choudhary also unveiled a Gaya Dham angavastram produced by weavers from Manpur Patwa Toli.
Union Minister for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises and Gaya MP Jitan Ram Manjhi and Health Minister Nishant Kumar also addressed the programme.
Deputy Chief Ministers Vijay Kumar Choudhary and Bijendra Prasad Yadav, Agriculture Minister and Gaya district in-charge minister Vijay Kumar Sinha, Revenue and Land Reforms Minister Dr Dilip Kumar Jaiswal, Tourism Minister Kedar Prasad Gupta, Science, Technology and Technical Education Minister Sheila Kumari, MLAs Virendra Kumar Singh, Manoj Ranjan Devi, Upendra Prasad, Rohit Kumar, Jyoti Devi and others were present.
Legislative Council members Jeevan Kumar and Afaq Ahmad Khan, Gaya Mayor Birendra Kumar, Zila Parishad Chairperson Naina Kumari, other public representatives, Chief Secretary Pratyaya Amrit, Director General of Police Preet Varman, Chief Minister’s Secretary Sanjay Kumar Singh, Magadh Divisional Commissioner Dr Safina A.N., Inspector General of Police, Magadh Range, Vikas Vaibhav, District Magistrate Shashank Shubham, Senior Superintendent of Police Sushil Kumar and other officials were also present.
A large number of pilgrims and members of the public attended the programme. Bihar Legislative Assembly Speaker Dr Prem Kumar joined the event through video conferencing.
