CM Bhupendra Patel Visits Lusadiya Dham on Guru Purnima
Synopsis
Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel observed Guru Purnima at Lusadiya Dham in Aravalli district on 29 July 2026, offering prayers at Sant Surmal Dasji's samadhi and Ramdev Pir's idol, and honouring the saint's sixth-generation descendants with a traditional shawl.
Key Takeaways
Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel visited Lusadiya Dham , Shamalaji taluka, Aravalli district , on 29 July 2026 for Guru Purnima.
He offered prayers at the samadhi and dhuno of Sant Surmal Dasji , a saint revered by Adivasi communities in northern Gujarat.
He also paid homage to the idol of Ramdev Pir , a folk deity widely worshipped across Gujarat and Rajasthan.
Saints described as sixth-generation descendants of Sant Surmal Dasji were honoured with a traditional shawl by the Chief Minister.
The visit reflects a broader pattern of Gujarat chief ministers engaging with tribal religious and cultural traditions in the state's eastern districts.
On the auspicious occasion of Guru Purnima, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel visited the revered Lusadiya Dham in Shamalaji taluka, Aravalli district, on Wednesday, 29 July 2026 — seeking blessings at one of the most significant Adivasi spiritual sites in northern Gujarat.
At the dham, CM Patel offered devotional prayers at the samadhi (sacred resting place) and dhuno (sacred fire) of Sant Surmal Dasji, a saint deeply venerated by tribal communities in the region, and paid homage to the idol of Ramdev Pir, a folk deity worshipped widely across Gujarat and Rajasthan.
Sixth-generation saints honoured with a shawl
In a moment that drew warmth from the gathered devotees, the Chief Minister honoured saints described as descendants of Sant Surmal Dasji's sixth generation by draping them with a shal (shawl) — a traditional gesture of respect in Gujarati and Adivasi custom. He also engaged in a dialogue with the saints and devotees present, calling it a 'sukhad avashar' — a joyful occasion.
'I feel blessed to have received the blessings of the saints of Lusadiya Dham,' CM Patel wrote, adding that participation in the devotional celebrations of Guru Purnima alongside the community was a deeply faith-filled experience.
Aravalli's tribal heartland and the significance of Lusadiya Dham
Aravalli district, carved out of Sabarkantha in 2013, is home to a substantial Adivasi population whose cultural and spiritual traditions are woven around local dham sites, folk deities, and seasonal festivals. Lusadiya Dham in Shamalaji taluka sits within this landscape as a living centre of tribal devotion — drawing pilgrims especially on occasions like Guru Purnima, the full-moon day of the Hindu month of Ashadha dedicated to honouring spiritual teachers.
Ramdev Pir, whose idol CM Patel also venerated, commands a cross-community following among pastoral and rural populations across Gujarat and Rajasthan, making the dham a site of plural, layered worship rather than a single-community shrine. Gujarat chief ministers have a long tradition of attending such observances at local and tribal religious sites as part of broader community outreach in eastern Gujarat's tribal belt.
Guru Purnima visits to tribal dhams carry quiet political weight in a state where Adivasi constituencies in the eastern districts have been a consistent focus of both cultural engagement and developmental policy. The Chief Minister's presence at Lusadiya Dham places him alongside the community at one of its most spiritually charged moments of the year — a gesture that speaks as much to cultural solidarity as to personal faith.
Point of View
Dahod, Chhota Udaipur — has been a recurring site of both BJP cultural engagement and state development schemes targeting tribal welfare. By personally honouring the sixth-generation descendants of a revered tribal saint, the Chief Minister anchors the ruling party's presence in a space defined by faith and community memory rather than policy announcements alone. Such visits rarely produce headlines but consistently build the ground-level goodwill that shapes electoral outcomes in these constituencies.
NationPress
29 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Lusadiya Dham and where is it located?
Lusadiya Dham is a well-known religious site in Shamalaji taluka of Aravalli district in northern Gujarat. It is associated with Sant Surmal Dasji , a saint revered by Adivasi communities, and also houses an idol of the folk deity Ramdev Pir .
Why did Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel visit Lusadiya Dham?
CM Patel visited Lusadiya Dham on 29 July 2026 on the occasion of Guru Purnima to offer devotional prayers at the samadhi and dhuno of Sant Surmal Dasji and to seek blessings from the saints of the dham.
Who is Sant Surmal Dasji?
Sant Surmal Dasji is a prominent saint revered particularly by Adivasi communities in Gujarat. His samadhi and sacred fire (dhuno) are located at Lusadiya Dham in Aravalli district, which remains an active centre of tribal devotion.
Who is Ramdev Pir and why is he significant?
Ramdev Pir is a folk deity widely worshipped across Gujarat and Rajasthan, especially among Adivasi, pastoral, and rural communities. CM Patel also paid homage to his idol during the Guru Purnima visit to Lusadiya Dham.
What is Guru Purnima and when is it observed?
Guru Purnima is an annual Hindu festival observed on the full moon day of the month of Ashadha to honour gurus and spiritual teachers. In 2026, it fell on 29 July .
