Jajpur/Puri: On the second day of her six-day visit to Odisha, President Droupadi Murmu visited Jajpur, where she offered prayers at the revered Maa Biraja Temple. Following the temple visit, the President performed the sacred Pinda Daan ritual at Nabhi Gaya, seeking peace and blessings for the souls of her ancestors.
According to her itinerary, President Murmu is also scheduled to perform Pinda Daan at Shwetaganga in Puri on Wednesday, continuing a series of spiritually significant rituals during her visit to the state.
Spiritual Significance of Nabhi Gaya, Jajpur
Nabhi Gaya, also known as Nabhi Gaya Pitrutirtha, is a highly revered ancestral ritual site located near the Maa Biraja Temple in Jajpur. The site holds immense religious importance in Hindu belief, as performing Pinda Daan here is said to help ancestors attain salvation and liberation (moksha).
Considered an integral part of the Gaya tradition, Nabhi Gaya is believed to offer the same spiritual merit as performing ancestral rites at Gaya in Bihar. Owing to this belief, thousands of devotees visit the site during Pitru Paksha and Mahalaya to perform rituals for their forefathers.
Shwetaganga: A Sacred Tirtha in Jagannath Dham
The President is scheduled to conduct another Pinda Daan ritual at Shwetaganga, located in the Balisahi area on the western side of the Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri Srikshetra. Shwetaganga is one of the Panchatirtha, the five most sacred water bodies of the holy town.
Mentioned in the Mahabharata, Shwetaganga is believed to have originated from the fingernail of Lord Vishnu and is spiritually linked to the River Ganga. The site has traditionally been used for rituals such as Pinda Daan, Tarpan, Shraddha, and other ancestral rites.
As Shwetaganga lies within Jagannath Dham, it is widely believed that performing ancestral rituals here allows departed souls to directly receive the grace of Lord Jagannath. During Pitru Paksha, Mahalaya and other auspicious occasions, the sacred pond witnesses a large influx of devotees.
What is Pinda Daan?
Pinda Daan is an important Hindu ritual performed to ensure peace, spiritual elevation and liberation of departed ancestors. According to belief, the ritual helps the soul transition from Preta Lok to Pitru Lok, ultimately guiding it towards moksha, or freedom from the cycle of rebirth.
