Ahmedabad

Over a million devotees are today having darshan of Shri Krishna at three major mandirs in Gujarat – Shamlaji in north Gujarat, Dakor in central Gujarat and Dwarkadhish in Saurashtra region.

Lakhs of devotees walk to these three mandirs every year ahead of Fagani Poonam(Holi or full moon day of the month of Fagan as per Gujarati Hindu calendar).

A small Dakor town in central Gujarat attracts highest number of pilgrims on this day. People gather outside Ranchhodray Mandir in big number at 3.00 am and literally run for darshan of Ranchhodrayji as soon as gates are opened to have darshan of Mangala aarti which takes place at 4.00 am. (As the entry and exit gates are different and there’s too much rush on entry gate, thousands of pilgrim don’t return to entry gate to take their shoes. The district administration hires a truck for transportation and removal of such shoes.)

Every year, ahead of Holi, on both sides of highways connecting to Dakor, hundreds of people set up camps and offer free meal, halt, water, fruit and other services.

Ranchhodray Mandir in Dakor continues to attract lakhs of pilgrims throughout Holi and Dhuleti. Dwarkadhish Mandir and Shamlaji Mandir also witness same during Holi-Dhuleti.

This year, some charm is missing on roads connecting to these three pilgrim places due to hype and fear of swine flu. However inside and outside the Mandir, atmosphere is same like what it is used to be during Fagani Poonam every year.

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