OmSai- ‘Shri Ram Nav ami Utsav 2011’

Dear Sai Devotees,

By Baba’s grace, SHITAL (Shirdi Saibaba Temple Association of London) is delighted to announce ‘Shri Ram Navami Utsav 2011’and its events schedule for 11th & 12th April 2011.

The Ramnavami celebration observes the birth of Lord Rama, and is one of the most auspicious days in the Vaishnav calendar. Ramnavami is a Hindu festival, celebrating the birth of Lord Rama, son of King Dasharatha of Ayodhya, and a divine figure in Hinduism who is believed to be the seventh incarnation of Lord Vishnu.

In the year 1911, Ramanavami was first celebrated and the idea had originated from the Urus. It continues to be celebrated uninterrupted to this day and 2011 remarks the 100th anniversary of the Ramnavami Celebrations.

Hence, we cordially invite you all along with your loved ones to join us in celebrating these historic moments of Ramnavami Celebrations on both the days i.e. Monday 11th April & Tuesday 12th April.

Full programme guide for Ram Navami Utsav 2011 is as follows:

MONDAY 11th April 2011

08:00 am – Temple Opens

08:15 am – Kakad (Morning) Aarati of Shri Sai Baba

09:00 am – Pothi (Marathi Sai Satcharitra) Palki procession

09:10 am – Mangal Snan (Holy Bath) of Shri Sai Baba

09:30 am – Shirdi Majhe Pandharpur (Chotta) Aarati of Shri Sai Baba

09:35 am – i) Shri Sai Satcharitra Akhand Parayan begins (Continuous reading of Shri SaiSatcharita)

– ii) Darshan &

– iii) Dhun chanting of SRI RAM JAI RAM, JAI JAI RAM; SAI RAM SAI RAM, JAI SAI RAM”

12:00 pm – Madhyan (Mid-day) Aarati of Shri Sai Baba

12:30 pm – Darshan and Maha prasad

12:45 pm – Shri Vishnu Sahasra Naam (Thousand names of Lord Vishnu) Jap

06:00 pm – Dhoop (Evening) Aarati of Shri Sai Baba

06:30 pm – Keertan (Bhajans)

TUESDAY 12th April 2011 (Main Day)

12:00 am – Shri Sai Satcharitra Akhand Parayan ends

12:05 am – Pothi (Marathi Sai Satcharitra) Palki procession

12:30 am – Shri Sai Maha Mantra dhun chanting

06:00 am – Rudra Abhishek of Shri Sai Baba as done in Shirdi

07:30 am – Shirdi Majhe Pandharpur (Chotta) Aarati of Shri Sai Baba

07:35 am – Nishan (Sacred Flags) Pooja

08:00 am – Bal Kand from Ramayan Pathan

12:00 pm – Madhyan (Mid-day) Aarati of Shri Sai Baba

12:30 pm – Darshan

01:30 pm – Sundar Kand & Hanuman Chalisa

04:30 pm – Babas palakhi procession,Urus (Chandan) Utsav & Dahi handi / Gopal Kala [An earthen pot containing a mixture of milk, dry fruits, ghee is tied up at a height of around 20-30 feet in the air, with supporting ropes which are used to move the pot to different heights and directions, as the participants (blindfolded) try and break the earthen pot with a wooden stick. Silver coins are also added to the mixture, which are then later distributed as prize to the winners.] at opposite Shiva Temple

06:00 pm – Dhoop (Evening) Aarati of Shri Sai Baba

06:30 pm – Ram Janma Adhyay Keertan by Kathakaar Piyush Bhai Shastri (Priest of Shri Jalaram Bapa Temple, Greenford)

08:30 pm – Shej (Night) Aarati of Shri Sai Baba

09:00 pm – Darshan & Maha Prasad

09:30 pm – Temple Closes

NOTE:- i) Temple remains open all night for all devotees on Monday, the 11th of April 2011 & food will be continuously served till Tuesday, the 12th of April 2011 Shej Aarati.

Devotees who wish to participate in Akhand Parayan of Shri Sai Satcharitra, please send us your interest to bookings@shirdisai.org.uk. Please note that Shri Sai Satcharitra in English will be used for this purpose, so we need 50 devotees to finish 50 chapters. If the bookings are less than 50, we will use ‘first come first serve’ method to allocate the chapters. If devotees exceed 50, then we do the draw system to allocate the chapters.

Baba Bless You All!

Kind Regards
Baba Malik

SHITAL (Shirdi Sai Baba Temple Association of London)