2025.04.05 (Vrindavan Today News): Vrindavan’s Panchakosi Parikrama, a pilgrimage route where devotees walk barefoot regardless of time or season, stands as a commitment to unrelenting faith. It is about circumambulating the temples of the holy city together out of devotion. Millions of devotees perform Vrindavan parikrama every year. But they face several challenges during the sacred journey of ten kilometers. Speeding vehicles, filthy street, water logging, silt accumulation make this devotional journey difficult for the devotees. They don’t have any choice but to continue with the pilgrimage. There is no one to address this issue. Despite the allocation of crores of rupees by the State Government for its development, the pilgrimage route remains plagued by poor maintenance and inadequate facilities.
Significant funds were sanctioned for the construction of roads, pathways, lighting, sanitation, and sewage systems along the Parikrama route. Stone benches were installed at various locations for devotees to rest, yet many have been encroached upon by ascetics. Worse still, heaps of garbage and an overwhelming stench force pilgrims to cover their noses as they pass. Waterlogging and silt accumulation further expose the inefficiencies of the cleaning efforts.
Streetlights were installed in 2021 along the Parikrama route from Keshi Ghat to Raman Reti under an ambitious illumination plan by the Mathura-Vrindavan Development Authority (MVDA). The 286 artistic streetlights, standing five meters high and each costing approximately ₹50,000, were transferred to the municipal corporation on October 26, 2021. However, due to lack of maintenance, these lights stopped functioning within a few months. As a result, pilgrims walking the sacred path at night are forced to rely on torches for visibility.
