Chhatarpur (Madhya Pradesh): Nearly 1.5 lakh devotees from across the country arrived at Pandit Dhirendra Shastri's Bageshwar Dham on the auspicious occasion of Guru Purnima on Thursday.
People gathered in long queues for darshan of Bageshwar Balaji Bhagwan since early morning. The temple was beautifully decked up with vibrant flowers and lights.
Pandit Dhirendra Shastri performed havan on the occasion. Following which, the disciples who received 'Guru Diksha' (or got initiation) and performed the aarti of Bageshwar Maharaj and took blessings.
Addressing the large crowd, pandit Shastri said, "Guru hi purna maa hai. Jise bachman mein Maa ka ashirwad aur jawani mein Mahatama mil jata hai, usse budhape mein Bhagwan mil hi jata hai. (Guru is the complete form of a mother. Those lucky ones who get blessing of their mother in childhood and guidance of saints in youth, they definitely achieve god in old age.)
A Bhandara (religious feast) was organised at the dham today. Variety of dishes including kheer, puri, halwa were cooked as prasad. All the disciples of the guru ji, other devotees who travelled from different parts of the country relished the Guru prasad.
A new tradition started on Wednesday, when the royal procession of Sanyasi's Paduka was organised. The religious rally was carried out with full zest and 'band baja'. Vedic Brahmin Acharyas performed sacred rituals amid chants of holy mantras. The event will continue till July 11.
Similarly, thousands of devotees flocked Pandit Pradeep Mishra's Kubereshwar Dham in Sehore and took 'Guru Diksha'. A bhandara was organised there and huge pandals were set up to accommodate the devotees.
