MAHOTTARI, March 25: This year's Mithila Madhyamiki Parikrama festival is concluding today. 

The 15 nights and 16 days' festival, also known as 'Mahakumbha of Mithila', is going to conclude with the circumambulation of the inner areas of Janakpurdham. 

The final step of this journey is the barefoot walk in the inner areas around a circle of 133 kilometers keeping Janakpurdham, the capital of ancient Mithila of Madhesh, in the center. 

There has been a tradition to circumambulate the Panchakoshi in the morning on the 16th day. In the middle of the journey, the pilgrims stayed for 15 nights in various pilgrimage sites of Nepal and India. 

There is a tradition of staying for six nights in Dhanusha, five nights in Mahottari and four nights in Madhubani district of India.

The journey is believed to have been celebrated as a circumambulation since the 18th century. As per the tradition, the journey ends on Fagu Purnima by playing Holi. 

It is traditionally believed that participating in this circumambulation will help do away with the sins and injustices caused by our minds, words and deeds and fulfill our wishes along with enlightenment.

Thousands of devotees from Nepal and India took part in the parikrama (circumambulation).

(RSS)