Palitana, March 11 – The sacred land of Saurashtra is set to witness the commencement of the annual Six-Village Pilgrimage at the revered Shatrunjaya Tirth in Palitana. This significant religious journey, which draws thousands of devotees every year, will begin on Wednesday, March 12. As per agency report, pilgrims will be welcomed with traditional rituals, including washing their feet, applying a ceremonial tilak, and offering coins as a mark of respect.
Shatrunjaya Tirth holds immense spiritual significance for the Jain community. The pilgrimage starts from the foothills of Palitana and spans a distance of 16 kilometers, concluding at Siddhavad village. Along the way, devotees will visit over 1,250 Jain temples. To complete the journey, pilgrims must ascend 3,501 steps to reach the summit of the Shatrunjaya hills, which stand at an elevation of 603 meters.
This year, the pilgrimage will commence at 4:00 AM on March 12. A fleet of 30 to 35 buses will transport devotees from Rajkot to Palitana. Various volunteer organizations, local authorities, and the Sheth Shri Anandji Kalyanji Pedhi trust will provide essential services for the convenience of the pilgrims.
During the journey, devotees will have the opportunity to witness the sacred waters of Adeshwar Dada and pay homage at the temples of Tirthankar Shri Ajitnath Swami and Shantinath Swami. The pilgrimage will also include visits to Chandan Talavdi, where pilgrims will partake in the offering of boiled water, as well as sacred sites such as Hastagiri, Siddh Shila caves, and Suraj Kund before reaching Siddhavad and Adpur (Gheti) villages.
At Adpur village, 89 special stalls (Paal) will be set up, with 35 designated for honoring pilgrims. Devotees will have their feet ceremonially washed, tilaks applied, and coins presented to them as a sign of reverence. Many pilgrims will later donate these coins to the Gaushala charity box as an offering.
On March 12, every food stall along the pilgrimage route will serve traditional Jain delicacies. These will include dishes such as dhebra-dahi, gathiya-poori-thepla, raw papaya sambhar, tea, warm milk, fresh grapes, watermelon, and herbal infusions made from cinnamon and cloves. Rajsthani lassi and lemon sherbet will also be available. The evening Chouvihar meal will feature roti, khichdi-kadhi, vegetables, sambhar, and curd.
Mahesh Bhai Mehta, a member of the Rajkot Jain community, stated that the State Transport Corporation has arranged for over 50 special buses to facilitate the pilgrims’ travel. Additionally, a special train has been arranged from Mumbai to accommodate devotees traveling from afar. Jain centers across Mumbai, Rajasthan, Kolkata, Vadodara, Rajkot, Jamnagar, Surendranagar, Bhavnagar, Shihor, Diyavar, Dabhoi, Latipur, Chennai, Palitana, and Limbdi will offer free services and hospitality to the pilgrims.
This revered pilgrimage serves as an opportunity for spiritual rejuvenation and the accumulation of divine merit, making it a cherished tradition among the Jain devotees.
