Bhartidevi Kantaria has been a lifelong Ram Bhakta propagating Hanuman Chalisa, Seva and Raam Naam through the inspiration, grace and guidance of her Satguru Pujya Hirjibapa (who largely established Hinduism in East Africa) and her late father Sant Shri Rambapa who helped lay the foundation for Santan Dharma and Raam Naam in the UK, hosting the first katha for Pujya Moraribapu and conducting 108 Hanuman Chalisa path every Sunday for the past 50 years.
Bhartidevi was called to the opening in recognition of her work in supporting Sanatan Dharma in the UK and her satsang and seva projects in India under her foundation Divya Seva Foundation which works to uplift and empower women and girls in rural Gujarat, Covid response for India building an emergency hospital and spreading 'raam naam wherever she goes.
Bhartidevi is the only woman who was invited from the UK to attend the Ram Mandir Pran Pratishtha ceremony in India. Speaking exclusively to Asian Voice, she shared her experience of witnessing the grandeur of Ram Janmbhumi.
“Receiving the invitation was surreal! The realisation that I was chosen to witness my Ram Lalla's darshan left me in disbelief. Internally, I sensed a calling, a yearning I've held since my youth to see my Ram Ji in this lifetime. The hows and whens were uncertain, but when the invitation arrived, overwhelming emotions took over. Seated in my temple, I expressed gratitude a thousand times, humbled and thankful for being called to witness the Pran Pratishtha. Later, I discovered I was the sole lady from the UK invited to the ceremony. Words can't convey the depth of humility and gratitude I felt,” Bhartidevi told Asian Voice.
She also said, “Feeling a sense of anxiety after many years away from Ayodhya, my apprehension vanished the moment I arrived. The atmosphere was incredibly pure and sanctified, reminiscent of Awadh. On the main day of the Pran Pratishtha, January 22nd, my emotions were in constant motion. Experiencing a truly divine darshan, I was deeply moved. Since my youth, my father had gifted me a murti of Ram, and I've carried it with me everywhere. This moment, the darshan, and the atmosphere held such significance for me that words fail to capture the depth of my feelings.”
Commenting on the ongoing distortion of narratives in the Western media around Ram Mandir and its construction, she said, “Western media can say whatever they like, but the reality is, after 500 years of constant battle, we have been able to build this temple, reaching millions of followers worldwide. It means a lot. People from all corners of the globe have travelled, even for just one day, to come and have darshan and participate in this function. Not just a single person, but individuals globally have attended this event. It holds significant meaning for them. For us, it's like a lifetime achievement, or perhaps even more, considering it has been 500 years in the making. This day has finally arrived, and generations to come may not witness it. This was crucial to maintain our Hindu and Sanatan spirits; otherwise, we would have lost it.”
