A poignant moment unfolded at the base of Pretshila Hill during the ongoing Pitru Paksha Mela in Gaya, Bihar, as an elderly couple from Jammu and Kashmir arrived to offer funeral rites for their departed son. Eighty-year-old Kartar Singh and his wife Vimla Devi, residents of Breekmila village in Samba district, carried a framed photograph of their son, Parth Singh, throughout the sacred rituals. Overcome with grief while remembering him, Vimla Devi repeatedly covered her face with her dupatta to conceal her streaming tears. Gathering their composure with great effort, the aging parents completed the ceremonial Pind Daan at the Pretshila Pindvedi to pray for the peace of his soul.
Fatal Road Mishap During Training Transit Cut Short a Young Life
The tragedy dates back approximately eight years, when a devastating road crash claimed the lives of four personnel on duty, including Parth Singh. At the time of the incident, Parth Singh was only about 25 years old. He was travelling alongside fellow personnel from Punjab towards Jammu and Kashmir for official training when their vehicle met with an accident en route. The sudden passing of their young son sent profound shockwaves through the entire household. It took around eight years before his elderly parents could undertake the journey to Gaya to perform the traditional soul-liberating rites on his behalf.
Cherished Memories and Familial Support in Samba
Throughout the offerings, Kartar Singh and Vimla Devi kept their eyes fixed on their late son's portrait. Mangal Singh, a relative who accompanied the elderly couple to Gaya, shared that Parth Singh's memories remain deeply etched in the family's daily life, noting that the fateful day of the crash is impossible for the household to ever put behind them. Kartar Singh has another son who resides in their native village, where he earns his livelihood through agriculture and tends to the daily needs and care of his aging parents.
Significance of Pretshila for Untimely and Accidental Deaths
In the pilgrimage traditions of Gaya, Pretshila Hill holds a unique standing specifically for ancestors and relatives who met an untimely, accidental, or unnatural demise. Devotees from diverse corners of the country travel here during Pitru Paksha to seek spiritual liberation for souls taken by unforeseen circumstances. Reaching the elevated shrine of Pretshila requires pilgrims to ascend roughly 676 stone steps. Ceremonies and oblations are also conducted near Brahmakund, situated at the foot of the hill, where families gather to pay heartfelt homage to their departed loved ones.
