Navratri—meaning “nine nights”—is a sacred Hindu festival honoring the divine Goddess Durga in her nine powerful forms. In 2025, the festival will begin around September 22 and culminate with Dussehra, a radiant symbol of good triumphing over evil . Over these transformative nights, devotees engage in prayer, fasting, ritual, and devotional dance, renewing their hearts with spiritual energy.

Devotion and Service Inspired by Bajarangdas Bapa’s Philosophy

At the heart of Navratri lies the ethos of bhakti (devotion) and seva (selfless service)—principles deeply mirrored in the life and legacy of Bajarangdas Bapa (Bapa Sitaram):

Born in Adhewada, Gujarat, in 1906, Bapa walked the path of renunciation and devotion, drawing from the Ramanandi tradition and serving humanity unconditionally .

In 1941, he settled in Bagdana, initiating an ashram rooted in feeding the needy, devotion, and simple spiritual practice. The temple that stands there today was built by his followers after his passing in 1977, reflecting community-driven devotion rather than regal patronage .

The ethos of the Bagdana temple continues: daily Mangala (pre-dawn), Rajbhog (midday), and Sandhya (evening) aartis are conducted, while selfless feeding and hospitality (bhojanshala, dharamshala) persist as living expressions of seva .

Bapa’s life reminds us: spiritual fulfillment blossoms when devotion is woven with service—caring for pilgrims, feeding the hungry, and living humility.

Sevā, meaning selfless service, holds immense spiritual importance in Hindu tradition. It’s regarded as a path to purify the heart, dissolve egotism, and draw closer to the divine—embodied in the Bhagavad Gita’s counsel to act without attachment to reward .

As the sacred festival of Navratri unfolds, let us weave our devotion into vibrant action—like the radiant colors of Garba, let our hearts dance with love.

Let every offering, prayer, and dance be fueled by shuddha bhakti, pure and heartfelt.

May we follow in the footsteps of Bajarangdas Bapa, whose life showed us that the highest form of worship is loving service—feeding those who hunger, welcoming seekers with open hearts, and honoring the sacred in every human form.

In this Navratri, may our seva—be it cooking a meal, helping at a temple, or simply offering a smile—be our prayer, unfolding as petals of love toward the Mother Divine.

May we wear each day’s traditional Navratri colors with intention and reverence: yellow for joy, green for growth, red for strength, white for purity, and violet for transformation .

In the spirit of Jai Sitaram, let us dedicate this Navratri to devotion through service, love through action, remembering that in serving others, we serve the Goddess Herself.

May your hearts and homes be filled with blessings, joy, and spiritual awakening.

Jai Mataji🙏

Bapasitaram🙏