Lili Parikrama fair is a famous congregation of innumerable devotees at Mount Girnar, Junagadh, Gujarat, wherein the assembled people circumambulate the sacred Mount Girnar. This grand event is organized to pay reverence to the popular belief that this mountain range is actually the abode of 33 crore Gods, and that if visitors perform a `parikrama` (circumambulation) of this religious place, they would receive the blessings of these numerous deities. Millions of pilgrims ascend the 4000 steps of Mount Girnar, to offer their prayers to the Gods residing there, during the month of `Kartik`, which according to the Hindi calendar falls during October and November.
Legends state that if a "Parikrama" is performed here, the religious merit achieved by pilgrims is akin to that obtained by worshipping 33 crore Gods as the mountains are considered eternal. There is yet another legendary tale which asserts that the Pandavas had performed the sacred Parikrama at Girnar Mountains following their victory at the battle of Kurukshetra, to invoke the divine blessings of Gods. Lili Parikrama fair is being celebrated with great pomp and glory since the last 150 years, and pilgrims gathered here sing hymns in chorus in the praise of Lord Shiva. They generally make an attempt to conclude their holy journey during the full moon night at Bhavnath Temple.
The term `Lili Parikrama` is a Gujarati term which implies `Pradakshina` or moving about a sacred object with devotion. Innumerable pilgrims pay a visit to Lili Parikrama fair, covering a distance of over 6 miles, on foot. Generally, a period of four days is required to complete this grand procession. The sacred Parikrama commences at the Bhavnath Shiv Temple, which is present about 6 km from Junagadh city. As per the accounts of Shiv Purana, this temple is also referred to as Revta Chal. Devotees visit the five significant peaks of Girnar Mountain, namely Dattatreya, Gorakhnath, Kalika, Ambamata and Augadh and religious sites like Bhartruchari Cave, Sorath Mahal and Bhim Kund. Wandering around the hilly tracts of Mount Girnar, several devotees would play folk musical instruments to accompany the hymns or `bhajans`. Over one lakh people attend this well-known fair which is arranged by the joint efforts of the regional inhabitants of Junagadh, officials of the forest department, priests and police.
