Mahesh Lal Gupt, A priest in Gaya

Gaya, Sept. 19: Mahesh Lal Gupt, 60, belongs to the rare Gayapal Brahmin community, known for assisting people in performing pinddaan for their ancestors in Gaya. His role, however, like 1,500-strong other pandits of his community, has changed over the past few years.

Gupt admits that he is no longer a pinddaan pandit but a pinddaan tirth organiser. Many don’t even mince words in admitting that they are “event managers” for the pinddaan devotees. They can put the modern-day multinational company executives in a spot of bother with their sheer way of planning rituals.

While the Gayapal pandas take centrestage during the Pitripaksh Mela, thousands of others thrive on the business. “Apart from the karmkand pandits, we employ people from every caste. They are paid salary for assisting our clients,” said Gupt.

Rates for every service offered, like train and air bookings, hotel accommodation, cab services and others, are fixed according to the quality requested. Gupt said: “Clients just have to make a call and let us know when they want to come and their budget. We arrange everything for them. We have tie-ups with travel agencies, hotels, cab agencies, shopkeepers and even doctors for emergency situations.”

Several of Gupt’s clients remain in touch with him after leaving Gaya. “They come here for the ritual every few years. On an average, around 3,000 of my clients come here every year during Pitripaksh. I have opened my own website where all information related to the ritual of pinddaan are available. My clients regularly visit the website and contact me through email or phone, after which I arrange their tours,” he said.

The “event manager”, however, insisted that the new roles acquired by the pandits are not just aimed at earning money. The real intention, Gupt said, was to make it easy for people to perform rituals for the salvation of their ancestors.

“At present, around 125 people work under me. Some of them are pandits, who help the devotees perform pinddaan for their ancestors. Others assist people to reach the town by arranging for their journey, accommodation, transportation, shopping and others,” said Gupt.

Employees are also sent to places like western Uttar Pradesh, Bengal, Haryana and other states to escort clients. “We send buses for large groups, which drop them back to their towns or villages after the rituals. This is to help people coming here from far-off places,” Gupt said.

“We charge rates for services according to the expenditure of our clients. Our main source of income remains their dakshina, which they offer at the time of leaving the city,” Gupt said.

Another famous pandit with a huge clientele of his own, who did not wish to be named, said the earning of every pandit in the community ranges between Rs 10 lakh and Rs 25 lakh.

“Many pandits with rich clients earn even in crores. The whole affair is kind of a business now. Pandits are no more engaged in only chanting sacred hymns for the salvation of the departed souls. Without any formal degree in business management, they can now give management school graduates a run for their money,” he said.

The people enjoying the services are not complaining. “I do not see any harm. If these pandits do not help people like me, we would have a harrowing time despite spending our money. They at least make proper arrangements according to our budget,” said Gaurav Bishnoi, a devotee who has come from Amritsar, Punjab, to perform pinddaan for his ancestors.