Jaipur, June 9 (IANS) Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma formally commenced the 21-kilometre Sapt-Kosi Parikrama from Punchari Ka Lautha on Monday night by offering Sashtang Dandavat Pranam at the temple gate and later performed seven dandavats as part of the religious ritual. The yatra continued for around six hours, following which a grand Dugdhabhishek of Giriraj Maharaj and Shrinathji was performed on Tuesday morning.

A large Bhandara has also been organised for saints, local residents, and pilgrims visiting the Braj region. The atmosphere along the route echoed with chants of “Giriraj Dharan Ki Jai” and “Radhe-Radhe” as devotees joined the Chief Minister during the journey.

Taking time out from his busy political and administrative schedule, the Rajasthan Chief Minister arrived at the revered Braj pilgrimage site of Punchari Ka Lautha on Monday evening and performed the sacred Sapt-Kosi Parikrama of Govardhan Giriraj Maharaj along with his wife, Geeta Sharma. Maintaining his long-standing religious traditions even after becoming Chief Minister, Sharma chose to undertake the pilgrimage as an ordinary devotee, avoiding any special VIP privileges.

Before beginning the circumambulation, he offered prayers at the Shrinathji Temple and sought the blessings of Giriraj Maharaj.

According to local sources, the visit marked the culmination of a special religious observance being performed by the Chief Minister’s family over the past several days. At around 8:30 p.m. on Monday, Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma formally commenced the 21-kilometre Sapt-Kosi Parikrama from Punchari Ka Lautha. He began the pilgrimage by offering Sashtang Dandavat Pranam at the temple gate and later performed seven dandwats as part of the religious ritual.

The atmosphere along the route echoed with chants of “Giriraj Dharan Ki Jai” and “Radhe-Radhe” as devotees joined the Chief Minister during the journey. Several public representatives and senior officials accompanying the Chief Minister also chose to walk the route instead of using vehicles. Among those present were Minister of State for Home Jawahar Singh Bedham, Deeg-Kumher MLA Dr Shailesh Digambar Singh, Viratnagar MLA Kuldeep Dhankhar, Chief Minister’s Secretary Siddharth Sihag, and Bharatpur Zila Parishad CEO Mridul Singh.

Observers noted that M Sharma remained immersed in devotion throughout the six-hour pilgrimage and interacted warmly with fellow pilgrims along the route.

Adding a deeply personal dimension to the pilgrimage, CM Sharma’s wife, Geeta Sharma, and son, Dr Kunal Sharma, had earlier completed the arduous Sapt-Kosi Dandoti Parikrama, a highly demanding form of pilgrimage performed through repeated prostrations along the route. The ritual was completed on Sunday night.

Family sources said the Chief Minister arrived at Punchari Ka Lautha to mark the successful completion of the family’s religious vow and to offer gratitude to Giriraj Maharaj. To conclude the observance, a grand Dugdhabhishek of Giriraj Maharaj and Shrinathji was performed on Tuesday morning.

Even during the pilgrimage, Chief Minister Sharma reviewed development and public welfare works in the region. At the Safe House in Punchari, he held a brief meeting with senior officials from the Bharatpur Division and Deeg district. Discussions focused on facilities for pilgrims, development of the Braj Chaurasi Kos Parikrama route, drinking water arrangements, and ongoing infrastructure projects.

The Chief Minister directed officials to ensure that devotees visiting the Braj region from across the country do not face inconvenience and that essential facilities are strengthened. Following the meeting, local residents and devotees gathered to welcome the Chief Minister, greeting him with garlands and a traditional safa (turban), to which CM Sharma responded with folded hands.

Extensive arrangements were made for the Chief Minister’s visit. Minister of State for Home Jawahar Singh Bedham, senior administrative officials, and police personnel closely monitored security and logistical arrangements from the time Sharma’s helicopter landed at the temporary helipad in Punchari until the completion of the religious programme. The visit combined devotion, tradition, and governance, as the Chief Minister balanced religious observances with a review of development initiatives in one of Braj’s most revered pilgrimage destinations.

–IANS

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