To provide devotees with a clean environment during the world-famous Pitru Paksha Mela being held in Gaya, the Gaya Municipal Corporation has taken an initiative to modernize its sanitation arrangements. This year, a high-tech electric litter picker vacuum cleaner machine has been introduced for cleaning around Devghat and the Vishnupad Temple. According to the municipal corporation, the machine will enable a larger area to be cleaned in less time. It will particularly be used at locations where large numbers of devotees gather for pind daan and tarpan. The machine will also assist sanitation workers in collecting scattered waste.
The Pitru Paksha Mela in Gaya has significant religious importance. Every year, people from different states of India as well as abroad visit the city to perform pind daan and tarpan for their ancestors. Devghat, located on the banks of the Falgu River, and the Vishnupad Temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu remain major centres for devotees during the mela. The movement of people at these locations begins from early morning. Maintaining continuous cleanliness around the ghats and temple is a major responsibility for the municipal corporation because of the ongoing puja, tarpan and pind daan activities.
Keeping this requirement in view, the municipal corporation has introduced the modern machine alongside the traditional sanitation system this year. The electric litter picker vacuum cleaner has been deployed for cleaning the Devghat and Vishnupad Temple areas. Mayor Ganesh Paswan, Municipal Commissioner Dr Gagan and former Deputy Mayor Mohan Srivastava formally launched the machine after performing a puja. The machine was subsequently operated at the site and cleaning work was started. The initiative aims to remove small and scattered waste accumulating around the major religious sites during the mela more quickly.
The machine operates on a battery. It does not emit smoke during operation, meaning that cleaning with the machine does not directly cause smoke-related pollution. It is equipped with a vacuum system that can collect scattered paper, polythene, flowers, garlands and other small waste from roads, ghats and areas around the temple. Various materials are often left around religious sites after worship. In such circumstances, the vacuum-based machine can help make the cleaning process more systematic.
During the Pitru Paksha Mela, devotees perform religious rituals at different vedis and ghats. Flowers, leaves, paper and other materials may accumulate around these locations after worship. Continuous movement of devotees creates a need for repeated cleaning at several places. The electric machine can help speed up the collection of small waste. This can help save the time sanitation workers would otherwise spend manually collecting waste at every location and allow them to focus on cleaning other areas as well.
The municipal corporation said that the waste collected by the machine will subsequently be taken to designated locations for disposal. This is expected to assist not only in waste collection but also in its proper management. However, sanitation workers will continue to have an important role in the mela's sanitation arrangements. Cleaning toilets, washing ghats, regular waste collection and monitoring crowded areas will continue to require ongoing work.
The initiative launched by Mayor Ganesh Paswan and municipal corporation officials is aimed at providing devotees with a clean environment. According to Municipal Commissioner Dr Gagan, the machine equipped with a vacuum system can collect scattered waste inside it. This will make the cleaning process more convenient. The municipal corporation expects that the use of the technology in crowded areas will assist in improving sanitation arrangements.
This year's Pitru Paksha Mela is being held from September 25 to October 10. A large number of devotees are arriving in Gaya during the mela. According to government figures, around 65,200 devotees arrived on the first day to perform pind daan and tarpan. Despite the rain, religious rituals continued at the Vishnupad Temple and various ghats along the Falgu River. With such a large number of people arriving, particular attention is required to sanitation, drinking water, toilets and safe movement.
The challenge before the administration and municipal corporation is not limited to removing waste but also includes maintaining continuous cleanliness across the entire mela area. As crowds increase around Devghat and the Vishnupad Temple, sanitation workers have to repeatedly clean the same locations. The machine can assist in quickly collecting small waste. Along with this, timely waste collection and disposal at designated locations will also need to be ensured to prevent waste from accumulating around the ghats and temple premises.
For devotees visiting the mela, sanitation is directly linked to their convenience and religious experience. People come to perform pind daan with the wish for peace and salvation for the souls of their ancestors. Clean pathways, hygienic toilets and a waste-free environment at the ghats are therefore important. During rain, water accumulation and slippery surfaces can also become issues, making regular cleaning, water removal and maintenance of safe pathways necessary.
The introduction of the high-tech machine is a new initiative in the Gaya Municipal Corporation's sanitation arrangements. As an electric machine, it does not emit smoke during operation, while its vacuum system assists in collecting small waste. If it is used regularly and effectively, it can assist sanitation workers in their work around Devghat and the Vishnupad Temple. The technology can also support efforts to maintain cleanliness at the religious sites.
The municipal corporation has currently started cleaning the Devghat and Vishnupad Temple areas using the machine. During the mela, its utility will depend on how regularly it is operated and how quickly waste is collected. Along with the machine, deployment of sanitation workers, regular inspections and cooperation from devotees in maintaining cleanliness will also remain necessary. The objective of the municipal corporation's initiative is to provide devotees visiting Gaya during Pitru Paksha with a clean and convenient environment for performing their religious rituals.
