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Gaya Pitrapaksha Mela is an important fair performed in Gaya, Bihar state of India.Gaya is said to be one of the holiest places in the world. Pitru Paksha also called as Pitr Paksha or Pitri Paksha is witnessed in Gaya only. The Mela is organized for 16- lunar day period when Hindus pay homage to their ancestors (Pitrs), through offering food. Pitru Pakshya, Kanagat, Pitri Pokkho, Apara paksha, Sola Shraddha (“sixteen shraddhas”), Jitiya and Mahalaya Paksha are the other names given to this 16- lunar day period. The Pinda- daan Mela is celebrated in the month of September by the large number of people from all over India.
In Hindus, it is believed to offer salvation to the souls who have left their bodies on earth. Pindan or the shraddha is performed by the eldest son of the family. Special days are allotted in these 16 lunar days for people who died in a particular manner or according to their status in life. The shraddha is performed only at noon, usually on the bank of a river or lake or at ones own house. The shraddha involves pinda-daan, which is an offering to the ancestors of pindas along with releasing water from the hand. Since the ceremony is considered impious due to its relation with the death of someone the kings and royals families are not allowed to perform the sharddha ceremony.