Pitripaksh or the pitru-paksh is the 16 day lunar period in the Hindu calendar when people pay homage to their ancestors by offering pinddaan. Gayaji has been the center of the pinddaan activity. Various legends are associated with this place as Lord Rama and Goddess Sita had offered Pinddaan for King Dashratha after his death and since then this place has continued to be the  center for performing this ritual and religious function every year. In the year 2020, pitripaksha starts from 2nd Sept and lasts on 17th Sept.