Walking a full circuit around a shrine, temple, or even an entire sacred town is one of the most physically active forms of worship on a Yatra. Knowing what a parikrama involves, and why the direction matters, helps pilgrims join one respectfully.
What is Parikrama?
Parikrama is the act of walking clockwise around a sacred object, deity, temple, or even an entire pilgrimage town, as a gesture of reverence and devotion.
Short and long parikramas
Some Parikramas are brief โ a few circuits around a temple's inner sanctum โ while others, like the Narmada Parikrama near Omkareshwar and Maheshwar, are multi-day journeys undertaken by dedicated pilgrims.
Why clockwise?
Parikrama is always performed clockwise, keeping the sacred object to one's right โ a direction considered auspicious and aligned with the sun's apparent path across the sky. Walking counter-clockwise is generally avoided unless a specific local tradition explicitly calls for it.
