Thousands of devotees across Uttar Pradesh celebrated Guru Purnima with religious fervour on Wednesday, taking holy dips in sacred rivers, offering prayers at temples and participating in special rituals. Major pilgrimage centres, including Ayodhya and Prayagraj, witnessed large gatherings as devotees paid homage to their spiritual teachers.
In Ayodhya, devotees thronged Mani Ram Das Chhawani, where Mahant Kamalnayan Das initiated followers into discipleship. A Mangal Aarti was also performed amid devotional chants and religious ceremonies.
Devotees from different parts of the country arrived in Ayodhya early in the morning, taking a holy dip in the Saryu River before visiting temples and monasteries to offer prayers and seek the blessings of their Gurus.
In Prayagraj, large numbers of devotees gathered at the Triveni Sangam to take a ritual bath on the occasion. Many also performed religious ceremonies, offered prayers to their spiritual guides and made charitable donations.
Speaking about the significance of the Guru-disciple tradition, Tirth Purohit Gopal Guru said, “Our tradition says that a Guru should not seek anything from a disciple, and a disciple should be willing to offer everything to the Guru. Without a Guru, true knowledge is incomplete. No matter how many books we read, it is the Guru who shows us the right path.”
A devotee at the Sangam said he arrived early in the morning to avoid the rush, took a holy dip, offered prayers to his Guru and performed rituals while praying for the welfare of society.
Meanwhile, in Varanasi, authorities remained on alert as the Ganga River continued to swell following heavy rainfall in the hill regions. Rising water levels have submerged several smaller ghats and riverside temples, raising concerns over access to the riverfront and the safety of residents in low-lying areas.
A priest in Varanasi said the river level had risen significantly since early morning, making it increasingly difficult to carry out daily rituals along the ghats.
Despite the rising water levels in parts of the state, devotees continued to participate in Guru Purnima celebrations across Uttar Pradesh, reflecting the festival’s deep spiritual significance.
(With IANS inputs)
