2026 Sawan Shivratri: celebrating the divine union
Nawan Nagar, August 2026
The Sawan month falls in July–August and is associated with Goddess Parvati’s penance to attain God Shiva as her husband. Each year, devotees mark this holy month with deep devotion. They celebrate festivals and undertake pilgrimages to express their reverence for God Shiva.
One such pilgrimage is the Kanwar Yatra. Inspired by Sant Baljit Singh Ji, Vishav Manav Ruhani Kendra (VMRK) has been serving pilgrims on this long and challenging journey since 2014. Several years later, kanwarias began gathering at Lighthouse Center Nawan Nagar on Sawan Shivratri. This day marks the conclusion of the Kanwar Yatra, and kanwarias came to offer their respects to Sant Baljit Singh Ji. Soon, other attendees began joining them for the opportunity to have darshan of Sant Baljit Singh Ji.
Over time, celebrating Sawan Shivratri together became a tradition. To mark the occasion, VMRK organizes a celebration that includes the narration of the Shiv Vivah Katha. Performed in traditional Indian style, the narration recounts the divine marriage between God Shiva and Goddess Parvati.
With each year, the number of people gathering for these celebrations grew steadily. This year, Sawan Shivratri fell on August 11. VMRK prepared for the celebration knowing that attendance would exceed the capacity at Lighthouse Center Nawan Nagar. To welcome everyone, the event was organized on the grounds adjacent to the Lighthouse Center, where the large crowd participated with the same enthusiasm and devotion as always.
Monsoon-proofing the event
Sawan falls during the monsoon season, so preparing for rain was a priority. VMRK set up a large waterproof tent for the main program. Smaller waterproof tents were arranged for a medical camp, an emergency response area, and a water station. Since the grounds sat in a low-lying area, VMRK also built drainage channels to keep rainwater from collecting at the main event site.
In the days leading up to the event, there were frequent showers. The uncovered area became particularly waterlogged. Volunteers responded by spreading dry sand to soak up the moisture wherever needed. They also used a backhoe loader to scoop out waterlogged patches and level the muddy terrain.
Event atmosphere
Kanwarias began arriving a day before the event. As they arrived, many played devotional songs and danced for a while. They were happy that their journey had come to a memorable final stage. VMRK welcomed them warmly. At their resting area, food was served and a medical camp was set up to care for those in need. Alongside the kanwarias, attendees also began arriving in large numbers, and by August 11, Lighthouse Center Nawan Nagar was brimming with people.
The main event tent was beautifully decorated and Sant Baljit Singh Ji’s dais was adorned in traditional style. The pathway leading to it had colorful floral rangoli, with floral strings along its borders. To ensure everyone could follow the celebration, six large LED screens and audio equipment were set up across the grounds.
Evening program
Though the program was scheduled for 8 pm, kanwarias and attendees began filling the tent much earlier. Setting the atmosphere, devotional songs played a few hours ahead of the program, echoing across the grounds. The devotion and excitement in the crowd ran so high that many began dancing to the music. Before long, Sant Baljit Singh Ji arrived. The crowd clapped enthusiastically in unison throughout as Sant Baljit Singh Ji walked toward the dais.
Upon reaching the dais, Sant Baljit Singh Ji greeted the audience with folded hands. Shortly after, he stepped down from the dais to walk among the audience seated in sections. Seeing him up close lifted everyone’s spirits even higher. In nearly every section he passed through, people continued to dance with heartfelt devotion.
After visiting nearly every section twice, Sant Baljit Singh Ji returned to his seat. He greeted the audience once again and began to chant “Adi Guru” which means Primordial Guru. The already-excited crowd immediately completed the chant with full enthusiasm: “Jagat Guru, Guruon Ke Guru, Param Pita Parameshwar Shiva Bhagwan ji ki Jai.” This praise honors God Shiva as the Primordial Guru, Universal Guru, the Guru of all Gurus, the Supreme Father and Supreme God.
Shiv Vivah Katha and darshan program
The professional singers then began narrating the Shiv Vivah Katha and the audience immediately responded with lively clapping and joyful calls. As the atmosphere grew more vibrant, Sant Baljit Singh Ji joined in and clapped along with them. So complete was their absorption that the three‑hour narration felt like only moments.
The singers then moved into devotional performances, and the darshan program began. Section by section, the kanwarias assembled in a queue. They then walked past the dais, each cherishing their moment of having Sant Baljit Singh Ji’s darshan. Given the large number of kanwarias, their darshan continued through the night until 7:30 a.m. the next morning. Attendees then took their turn. All the while, professional singers such as Gagan Mehra, Sonu Surjit, and Master Saleem continued singing devotional songs.
Throughout the period, those waiting to have darshan, as well as those who already had darshan, continued to enjoy the devotional songs. Whether it was late at night or early in the morning, the crowd’s energy stayed high. They sang, clapped, and danced, fully absorbed in the devotional music, and their joy was boundless.
The darshan program concluded at around 11 am the next day, lasting over 15 hours. Next, Sant Baljit Singh Ji gave a short talk and shared, “When you fall in love with God, only then will you engage in devotion to Him. If you have no love for God, you will not practice devotion to Him.”
As Sant Baljit Singh Ji departed, the event drew to a close. Everyone left with their hearts filled with cherished memories. The kanwarias were grateful for another chance to offer their respects, while the other attendees appreciated having darshan of Sant Baljit Singh Ji once again.