Dakor Purnima Mela 2023

Falgun Purnima walking pilgrimage to Dakor.

The Falgun Purnima pilgrimage to Dakor in Gujarat honours Ranchhodraiji, the beloved form of Krishna worshipped at the town's temple. Its central devotional legend tells of Bodana, a devoted worshipper from Dakor who repeatedly travelled to Dwarka for Krishna's darshan. As he grew old the journey became difficult. According to the temple tradition Krishna chose to accompany him to Dakor in the form of his image. The people responsible for the Dwarka shrine pursued the image and demanded its return. Accounts of Bodana's death and the image being concealed near Gomti Lake are part of the longer local legend.

The tradition continues with Bodana's wife Gangabai. Unable to pay the large amount of gold demanded in exchange for the image, she offered the small gold nose ring she possessed. Miraculously the image balanced against the ornament. The same temple account tells of a later revelation of another image at Dwarka and remembers places in Dakor associated with the journey, including Gomti and a neem tree. These are devotional narratives preserved by the shrine rather than independently proven events.

In the days around Falgun Purnima, groups of pilgrims walk long distances to Dakor with sacred flags, singing bhajans and joining temple darshan. Some visit Gomti Lake; volunteers assist travellers with water, food and rest. The fair and foot pilgrimage extend over multiple days. Although its full moon coincides with Holi, the Ranchhodraiji pilgrimage has a separate religious meaning and should not be described as Holika Dahan.

Pilgrimage and devotion to Ranchhodrai unite the Dakor fair.

Pilgrims carry flags, sing bhajans, attend darshan and may visit Gomti lake.

Centred on Dakor, Gujarat; the pilgrimage spans several days around Falgun Purnima.