Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel joins Guru Ravidas 650th anniversary Kalash Yatra at Jagannath Temple
Synopsis
A Kalash Yatra tracing the legacy of Sant Shiromani Guru Ravidas — from Kashi through five Gujarat cities — concluded at Ahmedabad's Jagannath Temple, where Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel invoked the saint's 'Begampura' vision to connect 15th-century social reform with the government's present-day welfare narrative. The sacred Kalash will now travel to villages across Gujarat over seven days.
Key Takeaways
Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel participated in the Kalash installation at Jagannath Temple, Ahmedabad on 3 August .
The Kalash Yatra began in Kashi and passed through Ambaji, Patan, Siddhpur, Mehsana , and Gandhinagar before reaching Ahmedabad.
The event is part of the 'Samrasta Sankalp Abhiyan' marking Guru Ravidas's 650th birth anniversary year.
The sacred Kalash will remain at Jagannath Temple for seven days before touring districts and villages across Gujarat .
State BJP president Jagdish Vishwakarma said the procession received welcomes at 26 reception points in Ahmedabad.
Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on Monday, 3 August participated in the ceremonial installation of a sacred Kalash at Ahmedabad's historic Jagannath Temple in Jamalpur, as a procession marking the 650th birth anniversary of Sant Shiromani Guru Ravidas Maharaj arrived in the city following a multi-city journey from Kashi. The event forms part of the 'Samrasta Sankalp Abhiyan', a nationwide observance of the saint's anniversary year.
The Yatra's Journey
The Kalash Yatra originated in Kashi and traversed several sacred and historic sites — including Ambaji, Patan, Siddhpur, Mehsana, and Gandhinagar — before reaching Ahmedabad. According to organisers, the procession received welcomes at 26 reception points after departing from Indira Bridge Circle in the city, before concluding at the Jagannath Temple. Saints accompanying the yatra were honoured upon arrival, the Kalash was worshipped, and its installation followed a foot procession and circumambulation of the temple.
What Chief Minister Patel Said
Addressing the gathering, Chief Minister Patel said the birth anniversary year of Guru Ravidas was being observed across the country under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He invoked the saint's vision of 'Begampura' — an ideal society built on love, equality, and equal opportunities, rejecting caste discrimination and social prejudice.
Patel also recalled Guru Ravidas's historical connection to Gujarat, noting that the saint had stayed at Sarsai village in Junagadh district and spread messages of devotion, social harmony, and humanity from the state. He cited the saint's teaching — 'Man Changa To Kathoti Mein Ganga' — to underscore the primacy of inner purity over outward ritual.
Linking the saint's philosophy to contemporary governance, Patel said: 'The ideals of Guru Ravidas are being realised today through the Prime Minister's mantra of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, as a result of which 25 crore people have come out of poverty.' He also referenced government initiatives including the development of Guru Ravidas's birthplace in Varanasi, the Sant Ravidas Express, and a memorial-cum-research centre at Sagar in Madhya Pradesh.
BJP Leadership's Remarks
State Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Jagdish Vishwakarma said the Kalash carries sacred soil associated with Guru Ravidas and will remain at the Jagannath Temple for public viewing for seven days before travelling to districts and villages across Gujarat. He described the yatra as a symbol of social harmony, noting that citizens and saints from different communities had welcomed the procession along its route.
Significance of the Occasion
Guru Ravidas, a 15th-century saint-poet and social reformer from the Bhakti movement, is venerated across communities for his teachings on spiritual equality and rejection of caste hierarchy. His 650th birth anniversary has prompted commemorative events at both the national and state levels. The Samrasta Sankalp Abhiyan — loosely translated as 'pledge for social harmony' — positions these events as a broader message of unity ahead of the saint's formal birth anniversary. Patel appealed to citizens to follow Guru Ravidas's teachings and contribute to the vision of 'Viksit Bharat 2047'.
Point of View
Constituencies the party has actively courted since 2014. Patel's linkage of Guru Ravidas's 'Begampura' ideal to the government's poverty-alleviation data is a deliberate framing that deserves scrutiny: whether the 25-crore poverty-exit figure withstands independent verification is a separate question that the celebratory setting does not invite. The yatra's route through Gujarat's religious and political heartland — Ambaji, Patan, Mehsana — is unlikely to be accidental ahead of any future electoral cycle.
NationPress
4 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Guru Ravidas Kalash Yatra in Gujarat?
It is a ceremonial procession organised as part of the 'Samrasta Sankalp Abhiyan' to mark the 650th birth anniversary of Sant Shiromani Guru Ravidas Maharaj. The yatra began in Kashi and travelled through several Gujarat cities before concluding at Jagannath Temple in Ahmedabad on 3 August.
Why is Guru Ravidas's 650th birth anniversary significant?
Guru Ravidas was a 15th-century saint-poet and social reformer of the Bhakti movement, revered for his teachings on spiritual equality and rejection of caste discrimination. His 650th birth anniversary has prompted commemorative events across India, including state-level observances in Gujarat.
What happens to the Kalash after the Ahmedabad event?
According to state BJP president Jagdish Vishwakarma, the Kalash will remain at Jagannath Temple for public viewing for seven days before being taken to districts and villages across Gujarat.
What is Guru Ravidas's connection to Gujarat?
Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel stated that Guru Ravidas had stayed at Sarsai village in Junagadh district and spread messages of devotion, social harmony, and humanity from Gujarat, giving the state a direct historical association with the saint.
What government initiatives related to Guru Ravidas did CM Patel mention?
Patel referenced the development of Guru Ravidas's birthplace in Varanasi, the Sant Ravidas Express, and a memorial-cum-research centre at Sagar in Madhya Pradesh as initiatives undertaken under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership.
