Madhyamiki Parikrama procession arrives in Jaleshwar

BY MAHESH KUMAR DAS,Jaleshwar, Mar. 4: The religious procession of the Madhyamiki Parikrama in Mithila was welcomed by locals as it arrived in Jaleshwar on Monday.  

Sadhus, saints, Mahants and other pilgrimage travelers who reached Jaleshwar for an overnight stay were greeted with great enthusiasm. Under the leadership of the Late Parshuram Sah Mithila Parikrama Religious Organisation in Jaleshwar, local youths welcomed them at Bhargavasar Kuti with traditional musical procession and shehnai instruments.  

As in previous years, this year too, the religious procession was received with flower garlands and musical celebrations by local youths, women and civil society representatives at Bhargavasar Kuti along the Matihani–Jaleshwar road.  

Jaleshwar Municipality Mayor Suresh Sah Sonar stated that arrangements for accommodation, meals and emergency medical services had been made both institutionally and privately for the pilgrims. More than 300 volunteers have been deployed throughout the fair to ensure the comfort of the pilgrims.  

A grand fair was also organised in Jaleshwar to mark the arrival of the procession. A large crowd gathered to witness the activities of the sadhus, saints and Naga Babas attending the event. People from surrounding villages of Jaleshwar and towns in Bihar, such as Sitamarhi, Sursand and Madhwapur, also visited the fair.  

Earlier, while travelling from Matihani to Jaleshwar, the religious procession was greeted with a grand welcome by various organisations, including Sugama Kathwaniya Sewa Samaj of Jaleshwar Municipality Ward No. 4, along with local villagers.  

The pilgrimage began at  Kachurimath in Dhanusha, carrying the symbolic palanquin (Doli) of Mithila Bihari from Agni Kund, following religious rituals. The journey passed through Janaki Temple, Hanumangadhi, Kalyaneshwar and Phulhar before reaching Matihani in Mahottari on Sunday for an overnight stay. Early Monday morning, the procession proceeded to Jaleshwar.  

After resting in Jaleshwar, the religious procession will move to Madai in Mahottari on Tuesday. The journey will then continue through Dhruvakund, Kanchanban, Parbat (Dhanusha), Dhanushadham, Aurahi and Bisaul before returning to Kalyaneshwar. The final ‘Antargriha Parikrama’ will be completed in Janakpur on the full moon day of Falgun (Holi), marking the conclusion of the pilgrimage.  

The Madhyamiki Parikrama, which began in the 18th century, is a traditional pilgrimage covering 133 kilometres on foot, including 107 kilometres in Nepal and 26 kilometres in India. The pilgrimage sees significant participation of saints and devotees from Ayodhya, Mathura, Haridwar, Darbhanga, Sitamarhi and Baidyanath Dham in India.  

The sacred journey begins on ‘Falgun Shukla Pratipada’ and concludes within 15 days in Janakpur, coinciding with the Holi festival. Pilgrims believe that participating in the Parikrama helps cleanse sins and injustices committed in thought, word, and deed, ultimately fulfilling their desires.  

More than a hundred thousand devotees from Nepal and India, including sadhus, saints and Mahants, have participated in this year’s pilgrimage.