The Janakpur Parikarma first camp at Kalyaneshwarsthan,kalna (Madhubani),Bihar,India

    

                            Althouh the history of Parikarma can be traced back to one hundred and twenty years only it has occupied an important event in the heart of Mithilavashi of India and Nepal. Mithila Mahatmya, an 18th century work describes famous ''Parikarma'', which covers 128 km distance between India and Nepal.There is description of Three Parikarmas around Janakpur --Brihat Parikarma, Madhyama Parikarma and Laghu Parikarma of which this is known as Madhayam( Middle one) starting from Kachuri village near Dhanusha ( Nepal ) which is 12 km away from Janakpur and the Parikarmavashi starting from here camp at 15 important places of which Kalyaneshwarsthan, Kalna stands as the first camp.The Parikarma ends after 15 days with offering Puja here but the night camp shifts to Bishaul ( Vishwamitra Sthan ) which is 3 kms away.The Dola of Mithila Bihari and Janak Dulari is decorated beautifully and kept on a raised platform with a big flag (dhwaja) around which Bhajans and kirtans are done whole night by the Bhaktas all over the night. Saints throng to this place from all over India and Nepal making the occasion more auspicious.A view of Dolas can be had in the photographs below --

The Parikarma, very popular among Hindu devotees and pilgrims starts from Kalyaneshwar ( popularly known as Kalna )in Madhubani of Bihar ( India ) near the Nepal border and on the day of Mahashivaratri lacs of devotees can still be seen today taking holy dip into the Kalna pond in the premises of the temple.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

 

                           The Bhaktas of Kalyaneshwarsthan come from far-flung areas to take care of the Parikarmavasis and give their services as duty especially to protect the sacred temple primises and the sacred  Kalna Pokhar from being polluted due to the large crowd camping around it.The cleanliness being the prime concern, next day when the parikarmavasi leave the place the whole primises is washed and cleaned with fresh water of the Pokhar . It is a sacred coincidence that the days of  Punya Tithi(the day of salvation) of Baba Paramhansa, Mahashivratri and Parikarma fall in continuation at Kalna which is regarded very  important by the devotees.