The tourism department is tailoring tour packages for pilgrims visiting Gaya to perform pinddaan rituals for the salvation of their ancestors’ souls. It would be finalised by September 15.

State tourism minister Sunil Kumar “Pintu” told The Telegraph that the tourism department officials were consulting tour and travel operators of states like Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka from where a substantial number of pilgrims come to Gaya throughout the year and particularly during the 17-day Pitripaksh period. The pilgrimage tour package would be finalised keeping in mind facilities to be provided to the pilgrims at reasonable rates. The package would include accommodation in hotel or dharamshala, vehicle for transportation, to-and-fro bus or train ticket and food during travel.

Every year, Gaya sees a rush of pinddaanis (those performing pinddaan ritual) during the 17-day-long Pitripaksh Mela. It will begin this year on September 30.

For the pinddaan rituals, the tourism department will hire services of Gayapal pandas (priests), whose rate of donation (dana) will be fixed under the package. “The package will be prepared in such a manner so that the buyer pilgrim does not feel cheated anywhere,” said “Pintu”.

“The package will be sold through tour and travel operators. They will get a certain percentage of the package cost as incentive. The operators will deposit the package price to the tourism department’s bank account deducting their percentage of incentive in advance,” he added.

“Pintu” said before finalising the package, the duration of the stay of pilgrims in Gaya would be taken into account.

Lakhs of pilgrims come to Gaya throughout the year. The rush multiplies manifold during the Pitripaksh period to perform pinddaan rituals.

District administration officials, Gayapal pandas and eminent citizens of Gaya held a meeting here on Wednesday to discuss the arrangements to be made during Pitripaksh Mela.