Travel Guide

Jalaram Bapa Jayanti 2026: Virpur Date, Darshan, Prasad

Jalaram Bapa Jayanti 2026 is on Mon 16 Nov. See Saptami tithi times in India and abroad, Virpur darshan and aarti timings, free prasad, no-donation rule, route.

Ayush Pandey November 6, 2026 · 12 min read

Jalaram Bapa Jayanti 2026: Virpur Date, Darshan, Prasad

Jalaram Bapa Jayanti marks the birth anniversary of Sant Jalaram Bapa, a saint of Virpur in the Rajkot district of Gujarat, whose home is now one of the best known pilgrimage places in Saurashtra. In 2026 it falls on Monday 16 November, the seventh day of the bright half of Kartik, and it is the 227th anniversary. This guide gives the date and tithi times in India and abroad, the Virpur darshan and aarti timings reported by temple guides, what the prasad is, the temple's no donation rule, how to reach Virpur, and tips for crowded days. We checked news reports and guides up to 6 November 2026 and we mark every figure that comes from a secondary source.

Quick Answer: Jalaram Bapa Jayanti 2026

Jalaram Bapa Jayanti 2026 is on Monday 16 November, on Kartik Shukla Saptami, which runs from 2:04 AM on 16 November to 4:22 AM on 17 November IST. Virpur is about 53 km from Rajkot. Guides list darshan from 6 AM to 9 PM, and the temple does not accept money donations. Free prasad is served.

Item	2026	Status
Date	Monday 16 Nov 2026	Drik Panchang, ShubhPanchang and our check agree
Tithi	Kartik Shukla Saptami	Gujarati: Kartik Sud Satam
Saptami (IST)	16 Nov 2:04 AM to 17 Nov 4:22 AM	Calculated by us; another guide gives 2:00 AM to 4:19 AM
Anniversary	227th (born 4 Nov 1799)	The 226th was held in 2025
Place	Virpur, Rajkot district, Gujarat	Birthplace and home of the saint
Darshan	6 AM to 9 PM	Temple guide, may change on festival days
Aarti	About 7:30 AM and 7 PM	Same guide, confirm locally
Donations	Money not accepted	Wikipedia, Wikivoyage

Jalaram Jayanti 2026 Date and Tithi Times

Jalaram Jayanti is held on the seventh day of the bright half of Kartik, about a week after Diwali, according to Wikipedia. Diwali 2026 falls on 8 November. We calculated the Saptami tithi with an astronomical library using the Lahiri ayanamsa. It begins at 2:04 AM IST on Monday 16 November and ends at 4:22 AM IST on Tuesday 17 November. Sunrise at Virpur on 16 November is about 6:59 AM, with Saptami in force, so the jayanti is on 16 November.

City	Saptami begins	Saptami ends
Virpur, Rajkot (IST)	Mon 16 Nov, 2:04 AM	Tue 17 Nov, 4:22 AM
London	Sun 15 Nov, 8:34 PM	Mon 16 Nov, 10:52 PM
New York, Toronto	Sun 15 Nov, 3:34 PM	Mon 16 Nov, 5:52 PM
Los Angeles	Sun 15 Nov, 12:34 PM	Mon 16 Nov, 2:52 PM
Nairobi	Sun 15 Nov, 11:34 PM	Tue 17 Nov, 1:52 AM
Dubai	Mon 16 Nov, 12:34 AM	Tue 17 Nov, 2:52 AM
Singapore	Mon 16 Nov, 4:34 AM	Tue 17 Nov, 6:52 AM
Sydney, Melbourne	Mon 16 Nov, 7:34 AM	Tue 17 Nov, 9:52 AM

Another guide reports 16 November for the USA, Canada, the UK, the UAE and Kenya, and 17 November for Australia and New Zealand, which matches the sunrise logic. Many mandirs abroad hold their programmes on the nearest weekend, so check with your local mandir. Panchang times can differ by a few minutes.

Who Was Jalaram Bapa?

According to Wikipedia, Jalaram Bapa was born on 4 November 1799 in Virpur and died there on 23 February 1881 at the age of 81. He was a devotee of Lord Rama from the Lohana community. At 18 he became a disciple of Bhoja Bhagat of Fatehpur, who gave him a Rama mantra and a japa mala.

He founded a feeding centre called the Sadavrat, where sadhus, saints and needy people could eat at any time, and visitors of every faith were fed. The tradition continues in Virpur today. Many stories are told about him, such as a grain container at home that never ran out, and a cure for a tailor named Haraji who then called him Bapa. These are devotional accounts, and we report them as such.

Jalaram Mandir, Virpur: What You Will See

The shrine is the house complex where he lived. Wikipedia says it holds his belongings, the deities he worshipped, a danda (staff) and a jholi (cloth bag) that are displayed, a portrait, and a photograph taken a year before his death. Wikivoyage mentions three large copper pots that hold water from the Ganga, the Yamuna and the Saraswati, and the market around the temple.

Other sites in Virpur, listed by Wikipedia, include the Virparanath Mandir, Jetha Bapa's samadhi, the Minaldevi stepwell and the Ramji Mandir.

Darshan, Aarti and Temple Rules

Item	Reported detail	Source note
Darshan	6 AM to 9 PM daily	Yatradham temple guide. Timings can change on festival days
Morning aarti	About 7:30 AM	Same guide
Evening aarti	About 7 PM	Same guide
Entry	Free. No donation box	Same guide
Dress	Traditional and formal clothing	Same guide
Photography	Not allowed inside	Same guide

Gujarat Tourism's page for the temple lists a Visiting Hours heading but no times, so we could not check the timings against an official source. On the jayanti day expect early morning aarti and long queues. Call the temple or ask your hotel on the day before you travel.

The No Donation Rule

Wikivoyage says the temple has not accepted money donations since 9 February 2000. Wikipedia notes that sources differ, and one says trustees set a rule in 1992 to serve free prasad without offerings. In both accounts the temple does not take money.

Do not pay anyone who says he collects money for the temple.
Do not buy a darshan or a VIP slot from a stranger. Entry is free.
If you want to help, serve at a volunteer or langar group in the town.

Prasad and Free Meals

Wikivoyage says visitors are encouraged to take a lunch or dinner meal at the temple, a tradition from the Sadavrat. It lists gathiya, boondi and sabji as the morning prasad, and khichdi with kadhi and desi ghee as the evening prasad. Wikipedia says devotees celebrate the jayanti with khichdi with boondi and ganthiya. Meal timings are not given by these sources, so ask at the temple.

Simple Prasad at Home

Khichdi or khichdi with kadhi
Rotla or roti with a vegetable dish
Boondi and ganthiya
A lamp before a picture of Jalaram Bapa
Recitation of the Jalaram Bavani and bhajans

Thursday is associated with him, and devotees often fast and visit temples on that day. If you fast, speak to your doctor first if you are pregnant, diabetic or on regular medicine.

How the Jayanti Was Observed in 2025

DeshGujarat reported the 226th Jalaram Jayanti on 29 October 2025 with an early Mangala Aarti, puja, bhajans and the distribution of prasad. A community feast served khichdi and a meal to thousands, and the streets were packed with pilgrims. Volunteer groups arranged drinking water, rest areas and medical help. Expect a similar pattern in 2026, with a heavier crowd because it is a Monday.

How to Reach Virpur

Wikivoyage puts Virpur about 53 km from Rajkot, with direct trains and buses, and a travel time of about 1.5 hours. Wikipedia names Gondal, Jetpur and Dhoraji as the nearest towns and Rajkot Airport as the nearest airport.

From	Route	Note
Rajkot	Road or bus, about 53 km	About 1.5 hours, according to Wikivoyage
Ahmedabad and other cities	Fly or take a train to Rajkot, then road	Rajkot Airport is the nearest airport
Abroad	Fly to Ahmedabad or another Indian airport, then continue	Check onward timing

Our cab service, intercity cab and airport pickup can arrange the road. Read how we handle everything after you land if you arrive from abroad.

Where to Stay

Wikivoyage says many hotels and guest houses are near the temple, mainly for visitors from outside Gujarat. A temple guide lists stays only in Rajkot, such as a dharamshala and a hotel. Book early for 16 November, or stay in Rajkot and travel in the morning. Our hotel booking can help you compare rooms.

A Practical Plan for Jayanti Day

Reach Rajkot or Virpur on 14 or 15 November.
Start from Rajkot before dawn if you want the morning aarti.
Dress in traditional or formal clothing and leave your phone camera in the bag.
Keep one adult with each child and elder, and agree a meeting point outside the queue.
Take the meal prasad, then plan the return in the afternoon, before the evening crowd.

What to Carry

Water, a power bank and small cash.
Comfortable footwear that you can take off easily.
A photo ID and your booking details.
A light shawl for the early morning.

For Gujarati Families Abroad

Wikipedia notes that temples across India and abroad hold festivities. Check your local mandir for the weekend programme, and use the city table above if you want to keep the tithi at home. For other festivals this month see our Kartik Maas guide and the Dev Deepawali guide.

Plan Your Gujarat Trip with Your Travel Partner

Your Travel Partner is a travel company based in Ayodhya that arranges trips across India for visitors from every state and from other countries. For Virpur we plan the road and the stay around the jayanti.

Airport or railway pickup in Rajkot: airport and railway.
A cab to Virpur with a fixed return time: cab.
Rooms in Rajkot: hotel booking.
Virpur with other Saurashtra stops as a custom package.
Send your dates, city and group size on WhatsApp or the enquiry form.

We do not sell darshan passes or collect donations for the temple. See the packages page, our reviews, about us and the cancellation policy.

Common Mistakes

Arriving on the jayanti morning without a room and without a plan for the return.
Paying a stranger for darshan or for a donation receipt.
Trying to take photographs inside the temple.
Using a Panchang for a US city when you are in India.
Forgetting that the 2026 jayanti is on a Monday, so the crowd is larger.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is Jalaram Jayanti 2026?

Monday 16 November 2026, on Kartik Shukla Saptami. Saptami runs from 2:04 AM on 16 November to 4:22 AM on 17 November IST.

Which Jalaram Jayanti is this?

The 227th birth anniversary, since he was born on 4 November 1799. The 226th was in 2025.

Where is the Jalaram Bapa temple?

In Virpur, Rajkot district, Gujarat. It is the house complex where he lived.

What are the Virpur darshan timings?

A temple guide lists 6 AM to 9 PM daily, with aarti at about 7:30 AM and 7 PM. Timings can change on festival days.

Does the temple accept donations?

No. Wikivoyage says the temple has not accepted money donations since 9 February 2000. Do not pay anyone who asks.

Is there free food at Virpur?

Yes. Visitors are encouraged to take a meal at the temple, a tradition from the Sadavrat that Jalaram Bapa began.

What is the prasad at Virpur?

Gathiya, boondi and sabji in the morning, and khichdi, kadhi and ghee in the evening, according to Wikivoyage.

How far is Virpur from Rajkot?

About 53 km, around 1.5 hours by road or train, according to Wikivoyage.

Which is the nearest airport to Virpur?

Rajkot Airport, according to Wikipedia.

Is photography allowed in the temple?

A temple guide says photography is not allowed. Follow the signs and the staff.

What should I wear for Virpur darshan?

Traditional and formal clothing, according to the same guide.

Which day is associated with Jalaram Bapa?

Thursday. Devotees often fast and visit temples on that day.

What is Jalaram Jayanti on the US dates?

16 November for the USA, Canada, UK, UAE and Kenya, and 17 November for Australia and New Zealand, according to one guide.

What did Jalaram Bapa start in Virpur?

The Sadavrat, a feeding centre where sadhus, saints and needy people could eat at any time.

Can Your Travel Partner arrange my Virpur trip?

Yes. We arrange cabs, pickups and hotels. We do not sell darshan passes or collect donations.

Conclusion

Jalaram Bapa Jayanti 2026 is on Monday 16 November, with Saptami from 2:04 AM that day. Virpur is about 53 km from Rajkot, entry is free, the temple takes no money, and free meals are served. Reach early, dress in traditional clothes and avoid anyone who asks for payment. For cabs, hotels and a Gujarat plan, message us on WhatsApp.