Jalaram Jayanti 2026

Puja Vidhi

Who Celebrates This Festival?

• Devotees of Jalaram Bapa: Followers, especially in Gujarat, observe this day to remember the saint and seek his blessings for peace and prosperity.
• Families: Households pray for good health, abundance of food in the home, and freedom from hunger and want (Annapurna Kripa).
• Those Who Serve Others: Devotees who feed the hungry and the needy observe the day by following Jalaram Bapa's example of service.

When Should This Be Performed?

• Morning Puja: The puja and the aarti of Jalaram Bapa are done in the morning, after bathing, from Brahma Muhurta (the pre-dawn hours) onward.
• Bhajan and Katha: Kept through the day at homes and temples. Check the puja muhurat for your city on this page.
• Mahaprasad: The community meal is served in the afternoon and evening, after the aarti.

About the Festival

Jalaram Jayanti is a much-loved Gujarati observance in which devotees remember the birth of the saint Jalaram Bapa of Virpur, known for his service to the hungry. It takes place on the Saptami (seventh day) of the Shukla Paksha in the month of Kartik.

The Katha (Story of Jalaram Bapa)

Once upon a time, in the village of Virpur in Gujarat, there lived a devout man named Jalaram, whose wife, Virbai, shared his faith. Together they began a free kitchen (Sadavrat) that fed every traveller, sadhu, and hungry person who came to their door, without asking for anything in return.

One day, a sadhu came to Jalaram's home and, after being fed, made an unusual request. He asked Jalaram to let Virbai go with him as his companion. Jalaram, who saw every guest as a gift of God, calmly agreed to this request and Virbai too agreed to go.

The sadhu took Virbai to a nearby forest and asked her to wait, and then he disappeared. A divine voice told her: "Virbai, return home. Take the staff (Dand) and the bag (Jholi) left here. They are a sign of the Lord's blessing. Keep serving the hungry and the Lord will fill your home with grain forever." The couple continued their service, and the kitchen never ran short of food.

Pleased with their selfless devotion, the Lord blessed them, and their home remained a place of food for all. Since that day, devotees have remembered Jalaram Bapa on his birthday, offering prayers and feeding the hungry.

Samagri List (Items Needed)

Gather these items before starting the morning puja:

• Image / Painting: Picture of Jalaram Bapa, often with the staff and the bag (Dand and Jholi)
• Tilak & Sacred Powder: Chandan (sandalwood paste), Kumkum, and Akshat (unbroken rice grains)
• Lamps & Lights: A brass or clay Diya with Ghee and cotton wick, and incense sticks
• Flowers & Garlands: Fresh flowers and a garland for the picture
• Food Offerings (Naivedya): Khichdi, Bhakri, Gathiya, sweets such as Laddu or Sukhdi, and fruits
• Devotional Accessories: Tulsi leaves, a Kalava (sacred thread), and a small vessel of water

Puja Vidhi (Step-by-Step Guide)

Follow these step-by-step instructions carefully to perform the ritual correctly:

Step 1: Morning Preparation and Sankalp

1. Wake up early during Brahma Muhurta, bathe, and wear clean, auspicious clothes.
2. Take a small amount of water in your right palm and take a Sankalp (solemn vow): "O Jalaram Bapa, today I remember you with devotion. Bless my family with health, food in abundance, and the strength to serve the needy."
3. Many devotees observe a simple fast or eat only sattvic food until the aarti is complete (families differ).

Step 2: Preparing the Puja Altar

1. Clean the place of worship and the entrance of the home.
2. Place the picture of Jalaram Bapa on a Chowki covered with a clean cloth.
3. Decorate the picture with a garland and fresh flowers, and keep a small vessel of water nearby.

Step 3: Performing the Puja Rituals

1. Lighting the Lamp: Light a Ghee Diya and incense in front of Jalaram Bapa.
2. Applying Tilak: Apply Chandan, Kumkum, and Akshat to the picture.
3. Offering Flowers & Threads: Offer fresh flowers and Tulsi leaves, and tie a piece of Kalava near the picture.
4. Offering Naivedya: Place Khichdi, sweets, and fruits before the picture in small portions.

Step 4: Reciting the Katha and Bhajans

1. Sit respectfully in front of the altar with a few grains of rice in your right hand.
2. Recite or listen to the Jalaram Bapa Katha and sing his devotional bhajans with deep focus and devotion.
3. After completing the story, sprinkle the held grains near the picture's feet.

Step 5: Aarti and Offering

1. Perform the Jalaram Bapa Aarti using the lit Ghee lamp while singing devotional hymns.
2. Offer the prepared Naivedya to Jalaram Bapa with folded hands, and pray for his blessings.
3. Take a little of the prasad in your hand and bow in thanks to the saint.

Step 6: Seeking Blessings and Serving Others

1. Touch the feet of the elders in your family to seek their blessings (Charan Sparsh).
2. Distribute the Khichdi and sweet prasad among your family members, neighbours, and children.
3. Feed the hungry or give food to those in need, following the example of Jalaram Bapa, before closing the day with a simple sattvic meal.