Panchkosi Parikrama started at 4.02 am on Saturday (1 November) in Ramnagari Ayodhya on the auspicious occasion of Devotthan Ekadashi. This 15 kilometer long journey will continue till 2:57 pm on Sunday (November 2). Devotees from different corners of the country are drenching the entire city in a devotional atmosphere with slogans of ‘Jai Shri Ram’.
Religious significance of Parikrama
Panchkosi Parikrama of Ayodhya on Devotthan Ekadashi of Kartik month has special significance. It is believed that with each step of this parikrama, the sins of the previous births are destroyed and the devotees easily receive the blessings of Lord Rama. The parikrama route includes visiting major pilgrimage sites like Kanak Bhawan, Hanuman Garhi and Ram Janmabhoomi. In religious texts it has been described as a journey that grants salvation.
Ram devotees gathered from all over the country
Lakhs of Ram devotees have reached Ayodhya from ten states including Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand. Organizations of bhajan-kirtan, chanting of Ram’s name and distribution of prasad are going on at various places on the parikrama route. It is estimated that this time more than 10 lakh devotees will participate in the parikrama, due to which Ramnagari is completely echoing with joyous slogans.
Strong arrangements for security and facilities
City MLA Ved Prakash Gupta along with BJP Metropolitan President Kamlesh Srivastava inspected the Panchkosi Parikrama Marg. Departments were asked to make better arrangements with coordination.
The MLA specifically directed that adequate number of mobile toilets should be installed, solid waste disposal arrangements should be made and health department teams should be deployed. Municipal Commissioner Jayendra Kumar was instructed to immediately repair the broken lid and pit of the sewer line near Chudamani intersection. Officials from various departments, Municipal Corporation employees and BJP workers were present during the inspection.
Ayodhya Police has appealed to the devotees to follow the prescribed route only and follow the safety instructions. This event full of devotion and enthusiasm has filled Ramnagari with a unique spiritual energy.
