Madhyamiki Parikrama proceeding across Mithila

By Mahesh Kumar Das/Rabindra Upreti,Jaleshwor/Bardibas, Feb. 25: One of the greatest religious processions in the country, the Mithila Madhyamiki Parikrama, reached Jaleshwor, Mahottari on Friday.

Thousands of Nepali and Indian pilgrims came from Matihani displaying cultural emblems and singing devotional songs. And they were welcomed at Jaleshwor’s Bhargawasar Kuti by local youths, elected representatives and government officials with a musical band and floral garlands. People from India’s Sitamadhi, Sursand, Madhuwapur also came to watch.

According to Lav Raja Singh, president of the Jaleshwor Chamber of Commerce and Industry, local organisations have taken the initiative to manage food, accommodation and healthcare for the Parikrama participants. To facilitate the procession, the Jaleshwor Municipality also declared a holiday on Friday.

A day earlier, the seemingly endless line of devotees was welcomed in Matihani by Dr. Rabindra Das Vaishnav, who is the main disciple of Maan Mahantha. Vaishnav was joined by Mayor of Matihani Municipality Hari Prasad Mandal, priests of various temples and shrines of the area and locals of Matihani. 

As is custom, Dr. Vaishnav welcomed the Parikrama participants with 25 quintals of rice, beaten rice, pulses, milk, ghee, yogurt, vegetables, oil and spices. The residents of Matihani and Madhwapur also made various donations as per their capacity. The Parikrama brought the city to life. The Sen-era Laxmi Narayan Shrine and the Parikrama Garden were especially crowded. 

Every year, this grand circumambulation begins on the first day of the bright half of the Nepali month of Falgun from the Mithila Bihari Temple in Kachuri, Dhanusha and lasts for 15 days. The procession ends when the pilgrims reach Janakpurdham on the day of Phagu Purnima after passing through 13 special sites in Nepal and two in India. All these sites have been mentioned as places of religious significance in the 18th century epic Mithila Mahatmya.

Those taking part in the circumambulation cover a total 133 kilometres on foot. Walking the Madhyamiki Parikrama is believed to bring peace and prosperity in life and grace of the gods in the afterlife. That is why even people older than 80 participate in it. 

Ram Narayan Yadav, 45, of Sinurjoda, Dhanusha, claims that those who take part in the Parikrama get their wishes fulfilled and presents himself as proof. “Six years ago, my baby son fell seriously ill. I prayed to the lord and promised I would walk the Parikrama if he recovered. The almighty heard me and healed my child. So, since then, I have been taking part in this ritual every year.”

Similarly, Rajnandan Das of Sitamadhi, India does not have legs but still participates in the Parikrama on a wheelchair. “This is a divine and sacred journey that I cannot miss,” he said. Dev Mahato has also been participating for the past 10 years despite being visually impaired since birth. “It soothes the body and lightens the heart,” he told The Rising Nepal.

Sita Phuyal, 60, of Bardibas, is taking part in the Parikrama for the first time this year and she said that it had already helped her get closer to inner peace.

Those walking the circumambulation feel that they must not inconvenience the people living and working along their route. That is why they carry their bedding, including mattresses and blankets, with them and cook the one meal they eat themselves.

However, the participants complain that their journey has been made arduous by dilapidated roads.