The Shri Mehandipur Balaji Mitra Mandal held its 39th monthly Shri Sundarkand Path at the Rani Shakti Temple in the Shahibaug area of Ahmedabad. The event continues a tradition the Mandal has kept up every month without a break for the past three years.
Musical Sundarkand and a Grand Darbar
The programme opened at 5.30 pm with a musical Sundarkand Path. A grand darbar was arranged alongside the recitation, an akhand jyot was lit and chhappan bhog was offered to Hanuman. The collective recitation, carried on the rhythm of the music, filled the whole complex with devotion.
Aarti and Prasad
The programme closed at 8 pm with a grand aarti, after which the devotees present sat down together to take prasad. For the occasion the members of the Mandal wore matching saffron kurtas, which gave the gathering a striking sense of unity. Families and friends attended in large numbers, a sign of the community’s continuing attachment to the Mandal.
The Tradition of the Monthly Sundarkand
Sundarkand is the section of the Ramcharitmanas that recounts Hanuman’s journey to Lanka and his search for Sita. It is believed that reciting it collectively dispels fear and obstacles. That is why many mandals of the Rajasthani samaj settled in Ahmedabad hold a Sundarkand Path every month — not merely a religious rite, but a monthly gathering that binds the community together.
