5 days, 6 ghats, countless shrines: Panchkoshi Parikrama commences with grand Ganga puja

Prayagraj: The Panchkoshi Parikrama — an emblem of Prayag's ancient traditions, faith, and cultural heritage — commenced on Monday with Ganga puja at the Sangam.The parikrama is being led by the saints and seers from the Akhil Bharatiya Akhara Parishad, Shri Panch Dashnam Juna Akhara, and the sadhus of various akharas. This Panchkoshi Parikrama will run for five days, concluding with a community feast (bhandara) for the sadhus and saints on the final day. The tradition of the Magh Mela encompasses several customs, including Kalpavas and the Panchkoshi Parikrama. Mahant Ravindra Puri, president of the Akhil Bharatiya Akhara Parishad, who took part in the pilgrimage, said the Panchkoshi tradition was an integral part of the Magh Mela 556 years ago. It was halted by the Mughal ruler Akbar 556 years ago. After many years, following demands from saints and ascetics, and thanks to the efforts of the Yogi Adityanath govt, the Panchkoshi pilgrimage was revived in 2019, and this tradition is now continuing uninterrupted.Mahant Hari Giri, general secretary of the Akhil Bharatiya Akhara Parishad, said: "The tradition of this pilgrimage is based on the regional expanse of Prayagraj, according to which the Prayag region extends over five yojanas and 20 kos. There are six ghats of the Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati rivers here, which together form three inter-riverine areas —Antarvedi, Madhya Vedi, and Bahirvedi. These three areas contain many pilgrimage and sub-pilgrimage sites, and ashrams, the circumambulation of which is included in the Panchkoshi Parikrama.""All the pilgrims visiting Prayag should perform this pilgrimage because it grants immeasurable merit by offering darshan of all the deities, ashrams, temples, monasteries, and water bodies located within these areas," he added. The Magh Mela administration has been tasked with overseeing traffic management for the pilgrimage. Following the Ganga Puja at the Sangam, the group of sadhus and saints visited Akshaya Vat and the Adi Shankar Vimana Mandapam temple, marking the end of the first day's journey. On Tuesday, the pilgrimage will include visits to Shultankeshwar Mahadev, Adi Madhav, Chakra Madhav, Someshwar Mahadev in the Arail area, Gada Madhav in Chhivki, and Bhairav Baba in the village of Mahewa.On Wednesday, the itinerary includes visits to Mankameshwar Mahadev in Lalapur, Padma Madhav in Beekar, Sujavan Dev Temple in Deoria, Parashar Rishi Ashram in the Panasa area, Valmiki Ashram, and Jwala Devi. On Thursday, the pilgrimage will include visits to Shankh Madhav, Durvasa Rishi Ashram in Kakra Dubawal, Sankat Haran Hanuman in Rampur, Pandeshwar Mahadev, Sitakund, Nishadraj Sthali, Nag Vasuki, Veni Madhav, and Alopi Shankar Mata.On Friday, after bathing in the Sangam, the pilgrims will visit the Shri Ram Janaki Temple in Juna Akhara and Krishna Nagar, Kidganj, where a grand feast will be held at the end.