Ayodhya, November 01: On the auspicious occasion of ‘Dev Uthani Ekadashi’, the “Panchkoshi Parikrama” was started at Ayodhya Dham at 4.02 am on Saturday. In the auspicious time, lakhs of devotees started the Parikrama with the thunderous slogans of ‘Jai Shri Ram’.
A huge crowd of devotees gathered on the approximately 15 kilometer long Parikrama route. The Parikrama will continue till 2.57 am. Despite the rain, the enthusiasm of the devotees is at its peak. An amazing confluence of devotion and faith is being seen in the entire city. Programs of bhajan-kirtan, Ram naam sankirtan and distribution of prasad are being held at various places. The entire Ayodhya Dham resounded with the slogans of “Jai Shri Ram”.
The administration has made elaborate arrangements.
Commissioner Rajesh Kumar, Inspector General Praveen Kumar, DM Nikhil Tikaram Funde, and SSP Gaurav Grover inspected the Parikrama route and issued strict instructions to officials regarding security, cleanliness, and traffic management. The administration has established robust drone surveillance, health camps, drinking water, lighting, and sanitation. Special arrangements have been made for traffic control, along with additional deployment of security forces.
Rain poses a challenge, yet faith remains unshaken.
Ayodhya has been experiencing rainfall for the past two days due to Cyclone Monta. Nearly 1 million devotees performed the Parikrama in the rain during the 14 Kosi Parikrama. The Panchkosi Parikrama also saw similar enthusiasm among devotees. The administration repaired the conditions worsened by the rain overnight. Due to slippery ghats, the paths were strengthened with reeds. The Asif Bagh railway crossing was cemented, making the route easier for devotees. Devotees and the priestly community expressed gratitude for the administration’s promptness.
During the Parikrama. An elderly devotee, Navami Lal (60), a resident of Aira Khamaria, Lakhimpur Kheri, suddenly fell down after feeling dizzy near Dashrath Kund. On-duty Kumarganj police station chief Om Prakash acted quickly and immediately called an ambulance, and the elderly man was rushed to Shri Ram Hospital. His life was saved due to timely treatment. The family members praised the police.
According to religious beliefs, the ‘Panchkoshi Parikrama’ is considered to be the giver of salvation. It is said that merely seeing and visiting it purifies one’s life and destroys sins. After the success of the 14 Kosi Parikrama, the ‘Panchkoshi Parikrama’ route in Ayodhya has completely flooded in devotion.