Girnar Parikrama
Girnar Parikrama, also known as Lili Parikrama, is held on Kartak Sud Agiyaras, every year at Bhavnath, Junagadh. The Girnar Parikrama travels around mount Girnar. The trip is 36 kilometres (22 mi) long. The parikrama starts from Girnar Parikrama Gateway, Rupayatan, and ends at Girnar Taleti, Bhavnath.
Meaning of Parikrama
Parikrama is also referred to as Pradakshina. Both are Sanskrit words: Parikrama literally means "the path surrounding something" and Pradakshina literally means: to the right (Dakshina means right) representing circumnambulation (Sanskrit: Pradakshina; Tibetan: skor ba). Both words are typically used as a verb, describing religious deities in a temple, sacred rivers, sacred hills and a close cluster of temples, and "doing" a parikrama as a symbol of prayer, is an integral part of Hindu worship.
The main annual event for Hindus is the Maha Shivaratri fair held every year on 14th day of Hindu calendar month of Magha. At least 1 million pilgrims visit the fair to participate in pooja and parikrama of Girnar hill. The procession begins at ancient Bhavnath Mahadev Temple at Bhavnath. It then proceeds onwards to various akharas of various sects of sadhus, which are in Girnar hill from ancient times. The procession of sadhus and pilgrims ends again at Bhavnath temple after visiting Madhi, Malavela and Bara Devi temple. The fair begins with hoisting of fifty-two Gaja long flag at Bhavnath Mahadev temple. This fair is the backbone of economy of Junagadh, as more than ten lakh pilgrims, who visit the fair generate a revenue of 250 million in only five days.[1][2][3]
Pilgrimage details
Sant Aja Bhagat and Sant Farali Bava started the Lili Parikrama. Aja Bhagat born in Village Bagdu (18 KM far from Junagadh)
Girnar Parikrama opens officially at Kartika Sud Ekadashi (Prabodhini Ekadashi, Gujarati: Kartak Sud Agiyaras) from Girnar Parikrama Gateway, in Rupayatan at 12 PM.
Pilgrims make the trip in 3 days, spending the night at Jina Bhava ni Madhi, Malvela and at Bordevi. Charity kitchens provide free food to pilgrims. Many NGO(s) and Charity Trust support the kitchens.
Gallery
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Girnar Parikrama pilgrims
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Sadhus (Hindu ascetics) at Girnar Parikrama
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Girnar Mountain in Bhavnath, Junagadh
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Bhavnath Road
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Opening of Parikrama from Rupayatan
References
- ↑ "બાવન ગજની ધ્વજાનાં આરોહણ સાથે આજથી મહાશિવરાત્રિ મેળો Shivaratri fair begins today with hoisting of 52 gaja dwaja". Sandesh. 16 February 2012. Retrieved 22 August 2012.
- ↑ "ગિરનાર ઃ લીલી પરિક્રમા ઃ પરકમ્મા Girnar - Lili Parikrama". Gujarat Samachar. 4 August 2012. Retrieved 22 August 2012.
- ↑ "જૂનાગઢની આર્થિક કરોડરજજુ શિવરાત્રિનો મેળો : પાંચ દિવસમાં રૂ.રપ કરોડનો લાભ Junagadh's economic backbone - Girnar Shivaratri fair - generates income of 25 crores in five days". Sandesh. 18 February 2012. Archived from the original on 2007-12-23. Retrieved 22 August 2012.