Agnihotra in the Harijan colonies of Kharagpur, West Bengal, India

In February, 2014 Abhay Paranjpe and Sanjay and Manisha Patil (photo right) visited the birthplace of Parama Sadguru Shree Gajanan Maharaj in Kharagpur, West Bengal.

Two families (the families of Gauri Shankar and Subodh Das) maintain the practice of Agnihotra in the Railway Quarter where Sonamata (mother of Parama Sadguru) used to stay with her father when she visited Kharagpur.

This Railway Quarter is quite close to the colony of Harijans (so-called ‘Untouchables’) in whose houses the great Saint Upasani Baba was residing in the year 1913. Part of His mission was to eradicate the curse of Untouchability which was destroying the fabric of Hindu society. Sonamata used to go with her father to this Harijan colony to feed and care for the poor. It was there at the age of thirteen, that Sonamata met her Guru, Upasani Baba. Five years later on May 17th 1918 she gave birth to the Light of the World.

Abhay Paranjpe performs Om Traymabakam Homa in Yajnya Shala.

Sanjay Patil performs Om Traymabakam Homa in Yajnya Shala.

Subodh Das performs Agnihotra.

Gauri Shankar performs Om Traymabakam Homa in Yajnya Shala.