Panchkosi Parikrama Begins at Prayag During Magh Mela

Prayagraj, Jan 2026 : The Panchkosi Parikrama, a symbol of Prayag’s ancient tradition, faith, and cultural consciousness, began during the Magh Mela. The ritual commenced on Monday with Ganga Puja at the Sangam, led by the Akhil Bharatiya Akhara Parishad and Shri Panch Dashnam Juna Akhara. The five-day Parikrama will conclude with a Bhandara (community feast) for sadhus and saints on the final day. The Magh Mela administration is responsible for managing traffic arrangements during this pilgrimage.

After the Ganga Puja at the Sangam, groups of sadhus and saints visited Akshayvat and Adi Shankar Viman Mandapam, marking the end of the first day of the Parikrama.

Significance of Panchkosi Parikrama
The Panchkosi Parikrama is an ancient religious tradition of Prayag. According to Mahant Hari Giri, General Secretary of the Akhil Bharatiya Akhara Parishad, the Parikrama reflects the regional extent of Prayag, which spans five yojanas and twenty kos. The confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati rivers has six sacred ghats, forming three antarmedhas (inner circuits): Antar Vedi, Madhya Vedi, and Bahir Vedi. These circuits include many pilgrimage sites, sub-shrines, and ashrams, all encompassed within the Panchkosi Parikrama. Every pilgrim visiting Prayag is encouraged to undertake this Parikrama, as it is believed that visiting these deities, temples, ashrams, and sacred water bodies grants immense spiritual merit.

Historical Background
Mahant Ravindra Puri, President of the Akhil Bharatiya Akhara Parishad, stated that Panchkosi Parikrama was an integral part of the Magh Mela 556 years ago. However, the Mughal ruler Akbar had banned it centuries ago. After persistent demands from sadhus and saints, the Yogi government revived the Panchkosi Parikrama in 2019, and the tradition has continued uninterrupted since then.

This historic pilgrimage not only preserves Prayag’s religious heritage but also strengthens the spiritual and cultural fabric of the Magh Mela.