Goverdhan sees influx of Lord Krishna devotees

Religious zeal

Goverdhan (UP), IANS: Thousands of devotees from around the country have flocked to the holy town of Goverdhan to begin the annual 21-km parikrama (circumambulation) around the hill that Lord Krishna, as a child, is believed to have lifted on his little finger to protect his faithful from the wrath of Lord Indra, the Hindu god of rain.

The Goverdhan Parbat is a narrow sandstone hill called Giriraj, about eight kilometres long. When Chaitanya Mahaprabhu performed the parikrama during his visit to Vrindavan early in the 16th century, he did not climb the Goverdhan Parbat, saying it was Krishna himself in the form of the hill.

Followers of Gaudiya Vaishnav community follow the tradition and celebrate Mudiya Poonau as Guru Poornima. The five-day fair will climax on full moon night July 23. The Mathura district administration, already on high alert, has made elaborate security and traffic arrangements to ensure smooth flow of pilgrims and avoid hassles.

The devotional fervour is high with around two million pilgrims already trekking the parikrama marg. For three days, “the Yamuna Expressway will be used to divert heavy vehicles from Delhi, Haryana and Punjab to reach Agra,” an officer said.

Talking of poor amenities and arrangements, the list could be endless but the devotees take everything in their stride, showing no signs of fatigue or frustration as they spiritedly march to complete the parikrama of the holy hill, shouting  chanting Giriraj Maharaj ki Jai, or Radhey Radhey and Hari Bol.

District authorities deployed more security personnel on the parikrama marg and the holy pond in the centre of Goverdhan town. Bathing in the holy kunds on the parikrama trail has been banned. At the main centre, the Mansi Ganga, more than 500 sprinklers and showers will allow pilgrims to take a holy bath.

Pilgrims from Rajasthan, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh are pouring in, even as showers lash the town.