In the Mithilanchal region of Nepal and India, the 15-day “Madhyamik Parikrama” (pilgrimage journey) has been held every year since ancient times. It is believed that completing this journey brings liberation (Moksha).
The journey, which lasts 15 days, involves traveling to 15 sacred sites in Nepal and India, accompanied by the palanquin of Lord Ram (Mithilabihari) and Mata Sita (Kishori). According to Upendra Pathak, the priest of Baba Jaleshwar Nath Mahadev in Jaleshwar Municipality-1, the parikrama is believed to lead to freedom from all worldly suffering. The pilgrimage, often referred to as Mithila’s “Mahakumbha,” is a long foot journey and is seen as a symbol of religious, cultural, and traditional harmony between Nepal and India. There are 15 rest stops during the journey, with 11 in Nepal and 4 in India.
The pilgrimage has religious and mythological significance, with separate explanations given for each rest stop. According to the mythology of Mithila, the tradition of the Madhyamik Parikrama has been celebrated since the 18th century. Pilgrims walk 133 kilometers in total, covering 107 kilometers in Nepal and 26 kilometers in India. It is believed that during this journey, Lord Ram and Mata Sita accompany the pilgrims. Devotees believe that they will attain heaven after death if they complete this pilgrimage, as explained by culture expert Dhruv Rai from Jaleshwar Municipality 5.
The religious journey begins on the auspicious day of Falgun Shuklapratipada and ends with the celebration of Holi in Janakpur after visiting the holy sites of Mithila. Janakpur is the birthplace of Sita, and the journey is said to have started from there based on a legend involving King Janak of Mithila. The parikrama starts with the procession of Lord Ram and Mata Sita’s palanquin from Kachuri village in Mithila Municipality.
During the 15-day journey, pilgrims visit various towns and villages in both Nepal and India, such as Kalneshwar, Jaleshwar, and Dhruvakund, resting at each stop. Devotees chant bhajans, engage in rituals, and spend the night in the company of the deity’s palanquin.
Thousands of saints, ascetics, and pilgrims from Nepal and India participate in this journey, which also attracts a large number of people from the local villages, with multiple generations taking part. The parikrama is marked by large fairs at each rest stop, where significant business activities take place, including the sale of food, household goods, and entertainment items. The 15-day Madhyamik Parikrama this year, which began on the 15th of Falgun, will conclude on the 29th of Falgun.
