This year’s Jagannath Puri parikrama will be from the 27th to the 30th November.

Every year an International group attends the parikrama, along with many Hindi speaking devotees. The parikrama usually consists of a majority of Hindi and Bengali speaking devotees, so this year the organizers have decided to have an even bigger international group specifically for English speaking devotees.

So if devotees really want to experience all aspects of Sri Jagannath Puri Dhama and immerse yourself in hearing the wonderful pastimes of Lord Jagannath, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Their associates, then they should definitely sign up for this year’s ISKCON Puri parikrama.

Bhakti Purushottama Swami, a Puri dhamavasi himself, will be expertly guiding the parikrama. He has been organizing this parikrama for 10 years. For the first time, Madhavananda Das, one of the most learned devotees in Jagannath katha, will also join him.

Every year, approximately 10,000 devotees attend this event, which makes it an enormous festival of maha prasadam, kirtana and of course, lots of Sri Jagannath and Gauranga katha.

JAGANNATH PURI FROM MAHAPRABHU’S PERSPECTIVE:

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu lived in Puri for eighteen years, so He had many confidential pastimes there. For example, He had pastimes in Gambira, Siddha Bakul, Tota Gopinath, Simha Dvara (the gate of Jagannath’s temple where Mahaprabhu visited each day), Narendra Sarovara and Jagannath Vallabha’s garden. All these places are described in Sri Caitanya Caritamrita, so nothing is more auspicious than to visit them in the association of learned devotees.

WHEN IS THE RIGHT TIME TO GO ON PARIKRAMA?

The word parikrama means circumambulation, and to go on parikrama means to circumambulate the holy places. The best days for going on parikrama are described in sastra. It is very important to schedule a parikrama during the specified times, so that one can gain maximum benefit. Therefore, in adhering to this, the parikrama schedule is as follows:

Devotees will arrive in Puri on the 27th of November and will have a full schedule until the 30th of November.

WHAT WILL HAPPEN ON PARIKRAMA?

21 KILOMETRES DAY PARIKRAMA:

On the 30th of November, they will do the full circumambulation (parikrama) of Puri, which is 21 kilometres. They will start walking at around 6:00 AM and will finish at 2 PM.

This will be a monumental parikrama party of almost 10,000 devotees walking the path of great saints and the Lord Himself…an experience to remember for a lifetime.

* PLEASE NOTE: that these dates are subject to change and that the international devotees will have their own kirtana party.

KIRTAN, KIRTAN, SPECIAL CLASSES AND…MORE KIRTAN

While on parikrama in the daytime and during evening programs, there will be no shortage of kirtana and special classes.

In fact, this year is a particularly special year for Jagannath temple: it is Navakalevara’s year, when the bodies of the Dieties are changed.  There will be a special class and slideshow explaining the meaning of this ceremony, and also the hard work the Puri devotees put into caring for their beloved Lord Jagannath. Hearing such lilas of Lord Jagannath and appreciating His devotees’ service to Him will bring us much closer to Him.

MAHAPRASADAM:

To honor mahaprasadam in Puri in the association of Lord Jagannath’s devotees is the perfection of life. For confirmation, one can remember Mahaprabhu’s life:

Q) What were the devotees doing in Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s association?

A) Every day they were having monumental kirtanas, ocean baths and…Honoring huge amounts of mahaprasadam!

Therefore, at least once in a devotee’s life (or ever year, why not?), one should experience this kirtana, ocean baths, Krishna katha and, of course, maha prasadam.

WHAT DOES THE PARIKRAMA COST?

The Puri Parikrama fees are very low. To register for the international group costs only 500 (five hundred rupees). This amount covers the whole parikrama and includes prasadam every day (3 meals, included Jagannath Maha prasadam!). The only thing it doesn’t include is accommodation.

HOW MUCH IS THE ACCOMMODATION?

WHAT IS THE TOTAL COST (ACCOMMODATION INCLUDED)?

Fees+ Hotel Category 1: 2500 (two thousand five hundred rupees)

Fees + Hotel Category 2: 2900 (two thousand nine hundred rupees)

Hotel Category Number 1: www.rajgroupofhotels.com  (Hotel SUV Palace)

Hotel Category Number 2: www.gajapatihotel.com

For registration, please contact: puriparikrama@gmail.com. For any more information about accommodation or other issues please contact: puriparikrama@gmail.com or bpssecretary@gmail.com.