Guru Purnima Ahmedabad: Full Programme at Rancharda Temple
Guru Purnima Programmes Planned at Shri Neem Karoli Maharaj Temple in Ahmedabad
Shri Neem Karoli Maharaj Temple at Rancharda on the western edge of Ahmedabad will mark Guru Purnima on Wednesday, 29 July, with a full day of religious activities, community service and devotional programmes. The temple has announced a schedule that includes the distribution of milk, group prayers by schoolchildren, evening bhajans and a community meal.
According to temple founder Dr Pravinbhai Garg, the programmes have been arranged for devotees as well as residents. People visiting the temple during the day will be able to take part in different religious activities linked to Guru Purnima, one of the most important festivals in the Hindu calendar.
The day will begin at 8:00 am with the distribution of 1,111 bottles of milk. Organisers have said the activity forms part of the temple’s service programme, which regularly combines religious observances with community welfare.
At 11:00 am, around 200 schoolchildren are expected to gather to recite the Hanuman Chalisa together. The Hanuman Chalisa, a devotional hymn dedicated to Lord Hanuman and written by the 16th-century poet Tulsidas, is widely recited in temples and homes across India. Group recitations are commonly organised during major Hindu festivals and are regarded by devotees as an act of collective prayer.
The evening programme will start at 7:00 pm with the Hanuman Chalisa being recited 21 times. This will be followed at 8:00 pm by Guru Bhajans and Paduka Darshan, in which devotees offer prayers before the symbolic footwear associated with the Guru. The celebrations will conclude with Maha Aarti at 8:45 pm, followed by Mahaprasad for those attending.
Guru Purnima is observed every year on the full moon day of the Hindu month of Ashadha. The festival is dedicated to honouring teachers and spiritual guides. It is also known as Vyasa Purnima because it commemorates Sage Vyasa, who is traditionally credited with compiling the Mahabharata and arranging the Vedas. Across India, temples, ashrams and spiritual organisations hold prayer meetings, religious discourses, devotional singing and community meals to mark the occasion.
The teachings of Neem Karoli Maharaj continue to attract followers in India and overseas. The Hindu saint, who lived during the 20th century, became known for encouraging devotion, selfless service and compassion. His influence later spread beyond India after several well-known international visitors, including technology entrepreneur Steve Jobs and Facebook co-founder Mark Zuckerberg, publicly spoke about visiting places connected with him during important periods of their lives.
The Rancharda temple has steadily expanded its religious and community activities since it opened in 2024. Alongside regular worship, it has organised Hanuman Chalisa recitations, Sunderkand Path programmes, festival celebrations and social service initiatives. Previous events at the temple have included Ram Roti Seva meal distribution, medical camps and special religious gatherings during Hanuman Jayanti, Navratri and other Hindu festivals.
Temple authorities have also held programmes that involve schoolchildren, senior citizens and local families, reflecting a wider effort to bring different sections of the community together through religious and charitable activities. Recent milestones have included the completion of the temple’s 100th Sunderkand Path and the continued expansion of its community service work in Ahmedabad.
Religious gatherings linked to Guru Purnima often attract large numbers of visitors because many devotees consider the day especially suitable for expressing gratitude to their spiritual teachers. Temples across Gujarat generally witness increased attendance for prayers, devotional music, religious talks and the distribution of prasad during the festival.
Dr Pravinbhai Garg said the Guru Purnima programmes at the Rancharda temple are open to all devotees and residents. The temple has invited people to participate in the day’s activities and take part in Guru Poojan as part of the annual celebration.
The programme schedule announced by the temple is as follows:
- 8:00 am: Distribution of 1,111 bottles of milk.
- 11:00 am: Collective recitation of the Hanuman Chalisa by 200 schoolchildren.
- 7:00 pm: Recitation of the Hanuman Chalisa 21 times.
- 8:00 pm: Guru Bhajans and Paduka Darshan.
- 8:45 pm: Maha Aarti followed by Mahaprasad.
With religious observances taking place from morning until night, the temple expects devotees from Ahmedabad and nearby areas to join the Guru Purnima celebrations.