President Droupadi Murmu on Saturday visited Gaya Ji in Bihar to offer prayers at the Shri Vishnupad Temple, an ancient Hindu shrine dedicated to Lord Vishnu.
On her arrival, she was welcomed by Bihar Governor Arif Mohammed Khan, Union Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi, and Bihar Minister Prem Kumar, according to a statement from the President’s office.
The Vishnupad Temple, located on the banks of the Phalgu River, is renowned for the sacred footprint of Lord Vishnu enshrined in a rock. Built in 1787 by Queen Ahilyabai, the temple is a major site for performing ‘Pind Daan’, a Hindu ritual for the salvation of ancestors.
The city of Gaya Ji holds immense religious significance. It is mentioned in the Ramayana, where Lord Rama performed Pind Daan for his father Dashrath, and in the Mahabharata. The region also witnessed the enlightenment of Gautama Buddha, with Bodhgaya, home to the Bodhi Tree, being one of the world’s most revered Buddhist pilgrimage sites.
Each year, lakhs of pilgrims from across India and abroad visit Gaya during Pitrapaksh to perform rituals for their ancestors, making it a key spiritual destination in Bihar.
