Saints of Girnar oppose notification regarding Parikrama.

24-10-2009
Saints of Girnar oppose notification regarding Parikrama.
Divya Bhaskar
Briefly translated from Gujarati

Every year four day Girnar Parikrama is held in Junagadh starting from pious Dev – Diwali day. Lacs of tourists and pilgrims take about 35km circular route around Girnar mountain. Earlier the area was a reserved forest but now it is converted to Wildlife Sanctuary. Recently administration issued a notification which prohibits the pilgrims/tourist not to enter the forest by leaving the prescribed track, not to light fire (cook food) and not to play loud music or microphones, as these things pollutes the environment and disturbs the Wildlife. Notification also prohibits private stalls, tents and hawkers on the route inside the sanctuary.

This was highly opposed by Barat Sadhu Samaj. (Saints community) saying that pilgrims don't eat charity food and hence they need to cook their own food. On the contrary they demanded that administration should protect the pilgrims from Wildlife. They also said pilgrims must be allowed to play music and religious songs and to collect wood for fire from the forest. Sadhu Samaj said that such measures are taken by administration to add to the difficulties of the pilgrims and there by discourage more pilgrims/tourist taking part in Parikrama.