Girnar Parikrama

Lili Parikrama (Green Pradakshina or circumambulation) around Mount Girnar in Junagadh district starts from the temple of Bhavnath and also ends there, under the belief that all the 33 crore gods live in Girnar. The fair is organized by local people, sadhus, police and forest department officials. The pilgrimage on foot, formerly 12 miles which is now curtailed to 6 miles since 150 years ago, takes 4 days.

Of the seven peaks of Girnar, five are important viz., Ambamata, Gorakhnath, Augadh, Guru Dattatreya and Kalika. The Bhavnath Shiv temple, Bhartruchari cave, Sorath Mahal, Bhim Kund and Shiv Kund. Devotees visit these sacred places during the parikrama.

After the rainfall, the ponds and rivers are full of water adding to the scenic beauty of the forest and hills. The fair is attended by around 1 lakh people from all parts of India during the Hindu month of Kartik Sud 11 to 15. The activities include raas and bhajan mandlis, dramas and duhas. Toy stalls, tea and eatable stalls, and stall selling idols etc are also organized to cater the public.

The parikrama is celebrated by worshipping Lord Shiva’s shrine at Bhavnath and people start walking on the identified tracks day and night. The entire Girnar hill pathways are lighted up and there are plenty of sadhu maths where people stop for a while to pay respect to these naga bavas and they continue walking enjoying the bhajan and raas mandlis and the folk music during the nights. Devotees try to end this journey on the full moon night at the Bhavnath temple.