Girnar Parikrama

Girnar Parikrama Gateway, Rupayatan

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.

Girnar Parikrama Gateway, Rupayatan

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

References

See also

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