How does a visiting family find a reliable Gayawal Panda for guiding their Shraddh in Gaya?

Finding your family’s traditional Gayawal Panda is ideal. We Gayawals maintain records (pothi) of families (based on ancestral village/district) who have visited Gaya over generations.

• Ask elders: Check if your family has records or knows the name of your ancestral Panda in Gaya.
• Inquire upon arrival: At the station or near Vishnupad temple in Gaya, there are offices or associations of Gayawal Pandas. You can inquire there, providing your native place details, and they might help locate your family Panda or assign a trustworthy one.
• Recommendations: Ask friends or relatives who have recently performed Shraddh in Gaya.
• Be Cautious: Be wary of random touts. It’s best to connect with a Panda through established channels or references for your Shraddh in Gaya. A genuine Gayawal will focus on the ritual propriety first.