Panchkoshi Yatra Tableau Captivates Devotees at Rajim Kumbh

The Panchkoshi Yatra tableau at the Rajim Kumbh is drawing immense attention from devotees, offering a glimpse into faith and tradition. The Rajim Kumbh Kalp Mela is being held on a grander and more magnificent scale this year, blending spirituality, devotion, and cultural vibrancy. The fair is filled with devotional hymns, bhajan-kirtan, and cultural performances by renowned artists from across the country. The tableau, themed around the Panchkoshi Yatra, has become a key attraction for visitors, showcasing the essence of faith and heritage.

Located at the new fairground in Chaubebandha, the Panchkoshi Yatra tableau provides a visual representation of the five major Mahadev temples, their locations, and pilgrimage routes. Devotees bow before the tableau with reverence, seeking spiritual blessings.

The Sacred Panchkoshi Yatra and Its Significance

A month before the Rajim Mela, the Panchkoshi Yatra is undertaken in Chhattisgarh, where thousands of devotees embark on a pilgrimage on foot to worship Lord Shiva at key temples. The yatra begins and concludes at the Shri Kuleshwar Mahadev Temple at the Rajim Triveni Sangam.

The five major Shiva temples included in the pilgrimage are:

1. Pateshwar Mahadev Temple (Patewa) – 5 km from Rajim, where Lord Shiva is worshiped as Annabrahma (God of food).
2. Champeshwar Mahadev Temple (Champaran) – 14 km north of Rajim, home to a self-manifested (Swayambhu) Shiva Lingam.
3. Brahmaneshwar Mahadev Temple (Bamhani, Mahasamund) – 9 km from Champeshwar, depicting Lord Shiva in his Aghor form.
4. Phanikeswar Mahadev Temple (Fingeshwar, Gariaband) – Where Shiva is worshiped in Ishan form, alongside Goddess Ambika.
5. Kopeshwar Mahadev Temple (Kopra, Gariaband) – Lord Shiva is revered in his Vamadeva form, and Goddess Bhavani symbolizes divine bliss.

The pilgrimage concludes at the Triveni Sangam with prayers at Shri Kuleshwar Mahadev Temple, granting spiritual merit to devotees.

A Journey of Faith and Devotion

Carrying essentials on their heads, devotees chant “Mahadev” and “Ram Siya Ram” throughout the pilgrimage. This spiritual journey is believed to bring peace, righteousness, and liberation from worldly vices like desire, anger, attachment, greed, and ego. At the Shakti Lahari Mata temple in Hathkhoj, devotees offer betel leaves, coconuts, incense, and lamps. On Makar Sankranti, devotees take a symbolic dry dip in the river after performing rituals by crafting Shiva Lingams from sand.

The Rajim Kumbh is not just a religious festival but a celebration of cultural and social unity. The Panchkoshi Yatra tableau offers devotees a spiritual experience in one place, blending entertainment, devotion, and cultural harmony in a truly remarkable way.