- Havan, Sunderkand, Ram Naam Kirtan, Maha Aarti and Bhandara to mark the celebration
- A divine Sunday of devotion • A rare resting Hanuman • A celebration steeped in faith, prayer and prasad
NE SPIRITUAL BUREAU
AHMEDABAD, AUG 21
Where devotion rises with the fragrance of havan, where the sacred verses of Sunderkand echo through the temple precincts and where the name of Lord Ram reverberates in joyous kirtan, Rancharda near Ahmedabad is preparing for a spiritually charged Sunday as the Shri Sankat Mochan Mahavir Neem Karoli Baba Temple celebrates its second Patotsav on Sunday, August 23.
The celebration will bring together devotees in an atmosphere of gaiety, piety and divine grace, with a succession of religious programmes culminating in Maha Aarti and Bhandara. For devotees of Neem Karoli Baba and Lord Hanuman, the occasion marks not merely an annual temple celebration but another milestone in the journey of a relatively young shrine that is steadily emerging as a centre of faith and spiritual fellowship.
The grand Pran Pratishtha of the temple was performed on August 23, 2024, with the blessings of Neem Karoli Baba. A distinctive spiritual feature of the shrine is that it is one of only four divine temples in India where Lord Hanuman is enshrined in a resting posture—an unusual representation that lends the temple a special place in the devotional landscape.
According to temple founder Dr. Pravin Garg, a series of sacred rituals and devotional programmes has been planned for the second Patotsav, inviting devotees to immerse themselves in prayer, bhakti and collective celebration.
A Sunday steeped in sanctity
The Patotsav celebrations will begin with Havan at 3.30 pm, invoking divine blessings through sacred fire and Vedic chants.
At 5.30 pm, devotees will participate in the Sunderkand Path, followed by Ram Naam Kirtan at 7.15 pm, filling the temple atmosphere with the melodious chanting of Lord Ram’s name.
The evening will reach its devotional crescendo at 7.30 pm with Maha Aarti, after which devotees will partake in Bhandara, transforming the celebration of faith into a celebration of community and togetherness.
The carefully sequenced programme promises an evening in which ritual, music, prayer and seva converge, allowing devotees to experience the Patotsav as both a sacred observance and a joyous gathering.
From Pran Pratishtha to a growing spiritual abode
Since its Pran Pratishtha in 2024, the temple has gradually evolved into a destination of faith for devotees seeking the blessings of Neem Karoli Baba and Sankat Mochan Mahavir Hanuman.
The second Patotsav therefore carries a significance that goes beyond commemorating the consecration of the idol. It celebrates the growing bond between the shrine and its devotees and the blossoming of a spiritual community around it.
The distinctive image of Lord Hanuman in a resting posture adds another dimension to the temple’s spiritual appeal, offering devotees a serene representation of the deity traditionally revered for extraordinary strength, devotion and service.
As Rancharda prepares to welcome devotees on August 23, the temple is set to glow with the twin radiance of deep devotion and festive joy—with sacred chants rising skyward, lamps illuminating the sanctum and Bhandara bringing devotees together in the timeless spirit of seva.
For one evening, Rancharda promises to become not merely a place of worship, but a confluence of faith, fraternity and divine celebration.
