Participants of Mithila Madhyamiki Parikrama arrive in Janakpurdham

By Dharbendra Jha,Dhanusha, Mar. 14: Pilgrims of the 15-day Mithila Madhyamiki Parikrama, Nepal’s longest religious pilgrimage, arrived in Janakpurdham on Thursday. 

The pilgrimage formally concludes after the participants circumambulate the inner sanctum of Janakpurdham on Friday morning. According to tradition, Holi, the festival of colour, is celebrated in Janakpurdham following the completion of the Mithila Madhyamiki Parikrama. The pilgrims, who walked barefoot for 15 days, visited 15 historical sites, drawing a sacred line at the Kalyaneshwar site in India at the beginning of the Parikrama. 

On Thursday morning, before entering Janakpurdham, they erased the line, signifying the completion of their journey, said Rishikesh Jha, a priest at the Janaki Temple. 

The pilgrims are staying at Rang Bhoomi Maidan, Baraha Bigha, Tirhutiya Gachhi and the Ram and Janaki Temples in Janakpurdham. They bathed in the sacred Ganga Sagar and Dhanusha Sagar ponds and offered prayers at various shrines and temples in Janakpurdham.

On the Aunsi Tithi of Falgun Krishna Paksha, the Dola (palanquin) of Lord Ram was brought from Mithila Bihari Temple in Kachuri, Mithila Bihari Municipality-8, Dhanusha, while the palanquin of Goddess Sita was taken out from Sundar Sadan, Janakpurdham-8. Both Dolas arrived in Janakpurdham on Falgu Purnima.

During the journey, participants rested at 11 locations in Nepal and four in India, walking 90 kilometers in Nepal and 30 kilometers in India, covering a total of 120 kilometers barefoot before reaching Janakpurdham. 

Thousands of devotees, including saints and common people, are taking part in the Parikrama. The pilgrims have been warmly welcomed at various locations in Janakpurdham.

To support the pilgrims, various organisations in Janakpurdham have arranged free food and health camps at different places. 

The Nepal-India Open Border Dialogue Group has been conducting free health camps at various rest points for the entire 15 days, informed Dr. Rajib Jha, chairman of the group.

Meanwhile, the local administration has tightened security arrangements in Janakpurdham, considering the large number of participants. 

The District Administration Office, Dhanusha, has issued a notice banning the sale and distribution of meat and alcohol in the Parikrama area until the pilgrimage concludes.Photo: RSS

Participants of the 15-day Mithila Madhyamiki Parikrama, arrive in Janakpurdham on Thursday.