Now pilgrims are saying it : Giriraj Parikrama was better in Braj raj

Govardhan, 2011.02.18 (AU) : Visitors to Govardhan and longtime residents are finally starting to wake up to the fact that paved roads do not make for an improved parikrama for barefoot pilgrims.

“Three decades ago we would be filled with joy and pleasure on doing the parikrama on the sandy ground around Govardhan. But since the government paved the roads, it has become very painful,” says Suresh Goyal, a member of the Giriraj Mitra Mandal (“The Giriraj Friends’ Group”).

“Moreover, the entire Parikrama Marg was previously shaded by many trees such as karila, chokra, amlaki and neem. Now there are barely any trees at all.”

Goyal points out many of the areas where one could still do parts of the parikrama on foot without having to compete with cars, but even these have become inaccessible to pedestrians. “Until just a few decades go there used to be a path right next to the sacred hill that was covered with beautiful trees and other natural adornments. It started from the cremation ground that is behind Bhaira Bhatthai Rajawalli Kothi on the road between Chakleshwar Mahadeva in Govardhan to Radhakunda, just after Niringha Das’ bagicha, behind Nanda Baba’s temple. But now access to the path has been closed.”

From the Radhakunda Marg up to the crossroads from Ram Baba’s ashram, the road has been paved. Ten years ago the Tirtha Development Trust (Tirth Vikas Trust) put a sandy footpath by the paved road, piling dirt up to make a comfortable walk for barefoot pilgrims.

“So now what has happened?” asks former railway officer M.P. Sharma. “Makeshift shops were set on this sandy side so pilgrims cannot use it after all. So to solve the problem, they decided to widen the road. The UP government has set aside 50 krores to widen the road. In the three years of the project nothing has been done except that the PWD has thrown heavy pieces of broken brick (gitti) on the side of the road. The pilgrims are forced to walk on this portion of the road, which gives them blisters.”

Fifty years ago the entire Parikrama Marg was kacha. “Some parts of the Radhakunda to Govardhan section were covered in gravel. but this was covered by thorns which disturbed the walk.”

Elsewhere, the section of the Parikrama path between Govardhan and Anyaur has been made out of cement-concrete (CC). But this has also broken down. A few places on the inner track next to the hill are still unpaved. Everywhere there are encroachments.

Bihari Lal Agrawal, a businessman from Kanpur, said, “This pakka road is not at all conducive to parikrama. They really should make a road of sand for those who are walking.”