A grand Khatu Shyam Mahotsav 2026 was held at Rashmi Platinum in Nana Chiloda, Ahmedabad. The programme opened with aarti at 9 pm, and the bhajan sandhya ran until 1 am.
The Pareek Brothers Perform
The well-known singers Omprakash ji Pareek and Suresh ji Pareek held a packed pandal spellbound with their devotional singing.
The Beat of Daf and Chang
Devotees danced on to the beat of the daf and the chang, lost in chants raised in the name of Shyam Baba.
Daf and Chang — Instruments of Rajasthan
The daf and the chang are traditional Rajasthani skin drums whose sound carries a long way. They hold a special place at Phalgun and Shyam devotional events, because their rhythm makes collective dancing come naturally.
The Tradition of the Night-Long Jagran
Shyam mahotsavs and jagrans usually run late into the night. It is believed that devotion offered at night is especially fruitful, and in practical terms the hour also suits working families best.
Setting Up the Pandal
For a large mahotsav, the pandal, stage, lighting and sound take several days of preparation. Ahmedabad has many decoration mandals skilled at this work, and it is they who give an event its shape.
