GAYA JI, Sept. 20 -- This Pitri Paksha at Gaya Ji is preparing not merely to welcome pilgrims but also to inscribe its own story on its walls. The Pitri Paksha Mela will be held from September 25 to October 10 this year. People from across the country and the world will realise for the first time that Gaya Ji's story extends far beyond the Vishnupad Temple or the Falgu River. As they walk by, people will see and feel the mythological tale of Gayasura and Dharmashila, while others will see the episode of Mother Sita performing Pind Daan beneath the Akshayavat Tree-all depicted in vibrant colours on the walls of Gaya Ji, thanks to the district administration's 'Paint the City' campaign. Gaya District Magistrate Shashank Shubhankar and probationer Indian Administrative Service officer Neelesh Goyal, who are steering the campaign co-sponsored by NITI Aayog, said it is gaining momentum across the heritage city. Approximately 30 school and college students and teachers have been selected through an open competition, while local artists are transforming the city's walls into vast canvases, bringing its religious and cultural identity to life. Work has already commenced at the Gayatri Ghat along the Falgu River. However, the rain is certainly testing the artists; at times, raindrops fall onto the fresh paint, while at others, damp walls hinder the movement of their brushes. But the artists, with great enthusiasm, are not ready to stop and are busy bringing their designs to life at significant locations such as Devghat, Gadadhar Ghat, Pitamaheshwar, Akshayvat, and Samvad Sadan, railway station, JPN Hospital, and the District High School. Enamel oil-based waterproof paint is being used to ensure the longevity of the artwork. The administration provides the raw material and food, and the artist will receive appropriate remuneration, Neelesh Goyal said. Pragya, an artist and professor in the MBA department at Gaya College, Gaya, has based her painting on the Madhubani art style. She has chosen the episode from the Ramayana in which Mata Sita performs Pind Daan (a ritual offering to ancestors) before the Akshayvat tree. Additionally, an attempt is being made to illustrate the connection between Gaya and Bodh Gaya through the artwork, utilizing symbols such as Mandala art, fish, and lotuses. Gaya IIM students R Laxmi Gayatri, Archita Mandal, Kase Aishwarya, Indrashi Rai, Divya Sarkar, Anjali Khobragade, Samiksha Nikalije, Vidushi Maurya, Astha Singh and Sakshi and Mohammad Zafir Hussain and Jyoti, students of Contemporary Art in Shivanand Art College Gaya are painting the walls at Gayatri Ghat. Vandana Kumari is a professional Madhubani artist. She has incorporated the feet of Lord Vishnu, his mount Garuda, and artwork based on Madhubani patterns into her painting. Vandana notes that this is the first time local artists in Gaya have had the opportunity to showcase their art on such a large scale. People often pause as they walk by; they look at the wall, then at the painting, and ask the artist about it. Such small gestures boost the artists' enthusiasm. Masira Saba, pursuing M.Sc. (Mathematics) from Magadh University and a Fine Art graduate from Pracheen Kala Kendra Chandigarh, is painting a mythological narrative associated with Gayasur and Dharmashila on a wall in the Madhubani style. She notes that Madhubani is a traditional folk-art form of Bihar; thus, she has endeavoured to showcase the culture of Gaya and Bihar through this very style. With a brush in hand and a towering wall before her, a story is gradually taking shape on the surface. Gaya DM Shashank Shubhankar said Gaya Ji's Pitri Paksha is not merely a fair. It is an integral part of the city's centuries-old religious identity. People from across the country and abroad come here to perform Pind Daan for their ancestors. The city's walls are being adorned with these very traditions and legends to give pilgrims an overwhelming and memorable experience. On the other hand, a controversy has erupted regarding the online Pind-Daan service launched by the Tourism Department ahead of the Pitru Paksha Mela, as well as the tourism packages being created by private individuals and businessmen around this ritual. Various organisations representing the Gayapal Pandas (Pilgrimage Priests) and associated religious groups under the banner of Ilake Chaudahsaiya Gayapal Samiti have intensified their opposition to the online Pind Daan arrangements. Terming the practice contrary to Sanatan Dharma and centuries-old traditions, they expressed their outrage during a meeting and also met with Vijay Kumar Sinha, the Minister in-charge of Gaya district. Samiti patron Mahesh Lal Gupt said that these actions heavily commercialize a sacred, deeply spiritual ritual rooted in family duty and faith. There is absolutely no textual or scriptural provision or tradition for performing Pind Daan remotely. According to Sanatan Dharma, a devotee's physical presence is mandatory to correctly fulfill ancestral rites. Private operators have launched tourism packages ranging anywhere from Rs.25,000 to Rs.51,000, which risks exposing pilgrims to heavy financial exploitation. Gaya District Magistrate Shashank Shubhankar stated that the online Pind Daan initiative was launched by the State Tourism Department to assist foreign pilgrims who were unable to travel to Gaya Ji to perform rituals for their departed relatives. The sole objective of the government and the administration is to provide comprehensive facilities and support to devotees performing Pind Daan rituals for their deceased family members and relatives. Shubhankar said the administration would keep a close watch for any fraud against pilgrims including in the name of online Pind Daan. No individual or organization found engaging in such activities would be spared under any circumstances....