Pilgrims Conclude Mahottari Leg of Mithila Madhya Parikrama, Proceed to Dhanusha

Mahottari. Pilgrims of the Mithila Madhya Parikrama have completed their journey through Mahottari district. After spending the eighth night at Kanchanvan in Bhangaha-9 of the district, the pilgrims departed for Dhanusha today, the ninth day. Kanchanvan is famous in this journey for the Holi festival.

Kanchanvan is the eighth overnight stop of this journey and the fifth in Mahottari. Earlier, on the fourth day of the journey, the pilgrims, who entered Mahottari, have already spent nights in Matiyani, Jaleshwar, Madai, and Dhruvkund in the district. This 15-day circumambulation, centered around Janakpurdham, covers a circuit of 133 kilometers, traditionally including six overnight stays in Dhanusha and four in the neighboring Indian district of Madhubani.

This journey, which began on the day of Falgun Amavasya from the Mithilavihari Temple in Theraachuri of Mithilavihari Municipality in Dhanusha, is undertaken barefoot, carrying palanquins (dolis) bearing the idols of Mithilavihari (Shri Ram) and Kishoriji (Sita). The pilgrims departing from Kanchanvan today will spend the night in Parvata. Following this, the tenth day's stop will be Dhanushadham, the eleventh Satokhardham, the twelfth Aurahi, and the final, fifteenth day's overnight stay will be at the Rangashala ground in Janakpurdham. Furthermore, the first day's overnight stay was completed by the pilgrims at Hanumangarhi in Dhanusha.

There is a tradition that the overnight stops in the neighboring Indian district of Madhubani include Kalyanashwar (Kalna), Girijasthan (Phulhar), Karuna, and Bisaul on the second, third, thirteenth, and fourteenth days, respectively. This journey covers a distance of 107 kilometers in Mahottari and Dhanusha combined, and 26 kilometers on the Indian side.

Mahant Dr. Ravindradas Vaishnav, the successor of the Laxminarayan Math in Matiyani, explains that this tradition was established following the footsteps of Lord Shri Ram and Goddess Sita, who are believed to have toured various places in the then Mithila kingdom after their marriage during the Treta Yuga. He stated that this journey is undertaken with the aspiration for human welfare and salvation.