With less than a fortnight to go, preparations are well underway for Morari Bapu’s Ram Katha in Khadagada, Rajasthan. Khadagada is home to the renowned Shri Goverdan Vidhya Vihar Sanskrit college founded in 1933. The nine-day Katha will be held in the rural village of Khadagada, on the doorstep of the Sanskrit college from 8 May to 26 May.
The Katha, which is being organised by a team of dedicated volunteers from the UK and India led by Councillor Abhishek Sachdev and his family, is expected to attract thousands to the village from across the world to participate in Bapu’s teaching of Satya, Prem and Karuna; Truth, Love and Compassion.
Bapu’s Vyas Pith will pay tribute to the dedication of the founders of the Sanskrit college, including the recently departed spiritual soul of Shri Narayan Dixit. Bapu hopes to touch on the importance of ancient Sanskrit language which has a 3,500 year history and is the main language of all Hindu philosophy. As with all Kathas, Bapu will help to explain the significance of Sanskrit within both the Hindu scriptures and a modern context. Bapu frequently talks about the importance of language, be it Gujarati, Hindi or any other mother tongue.
Bapu has been reciting The Ramcharitmanas for over 50 years. During each Katha, Bapu selects a couplet from The Ramcharitmanas and expounds upon its meaning, explaining its relevance for modern-day life. Today, Bapu’s Katha’s are recognised across the globe for celebrating the best of mankind, combining the rich history of striking locations with traditional readings of Hindu scriptures. Bapu has recited Kathas in renowned locations such as Jerusalem, Athens, Vatican City, Mount Kailash and Toronto.
Although Bapu is Hindu and uses ancient Hindu texts to illustrate his teachings, he insists there is nothing religious about his beliefs and calls for acceptance of all faiths. He is refreshingly practical, denouncing religious conversions and complicated rituals, instead urging listeners to be open, in head and heart. His openness towards others and their faith is evident in each and every Katha, during which he may use an analogy from Christianity, recite lines of Urdu poetry or quote a lesson from Buddhism.
The organisers of the Katha have made arrangements for guests on a grand scale whereby a specially constructed huge air-conditioned marquee will be used to keep all guests comfortable in the hot Rajasthani weather. The Katha organisers are particularly keen to ensure that all guests enjoy Bapu’s prasad of a delicious vegetarian Indian lunch which will be freshly prepared on site.
For further information, visit http://chitrakutdhamtalgajarda.org/khadagda-rajasthan/ or please email [email protected].
