There are more than 200 rivers in India, including small and big. In Sanatan Dharma, people worship rivers as goddesses. It is said that bathing in rivers frees one from all sins. However, do you know that there is a river in the country which people revolve around? This river is none other than Narmada. Narmada is the only river in the world around which people revolve. Devotees circumambulate the river saying Narmade Har.
Narmada river is considered the life giver. This river originates from Madhya Pradesh. Starting from Madhya Pradesh and ending with the Bay of Bengal, Narmada established life wherever it passed through. Parikrama residents are seen with great reverence on the banks of Mother Narmada. People make arrangements for halt and food all along the way for the devotees doing parikrama.
Where does the journey start?
Narmada Parikrama is a 1,320 kilometer walk around the Narmada River starting from Amarkantak in Madhya Pradesh and ending at the Gulf of Khambhat in Gujarat. Under Narmada Parikrama, devotees start their journey from the source of Narmada, Omkareshwar or any ghat and come to the same place and complete their parikrama. At many places, people provide food and items to the people of Narmada Parikrama. Narmada Parikrama starts from the full moon day after Devuthani Ekadashi.
destruction of a person’s sins
According to the Puranas, circumambulating the Narmada destroys a person’s sins and gives him salvation. Those doing parikrama on foot also camp in the evening after walking all day and get engrossed in the aarti and bhajan of Maa Narmada. Narmada river is one of those rivers of the country which flows in the opposite direction. This river flows from east to west, whereas most rivers flow from west to east.