{"id":57298,"date":"2026-07-24T19:08:54","date_gmt":"2026-07-24T13:38:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/financialtelegraph.in\/index.php\/2026\/07\/24\/morari-bapu-begins-his-981st-ram-katha-in-kenyas-tea-country\/"},"modified":"2026-07-24T19:08:54","modified_gmt":"2026-07-24T13:38:54","slug":"morari-bapu-begins-his-981st-ram-katha-in-kenyas-tea-country","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/financialtelegraph.in\/index.php\/2026\/07\/24\/morari-bapu-begins-his-981st-ram-katha-in-kenyas-tea-country\/","title":{"rendered":"Morari Bapu Begins His 981st Ram Katha in Kenya\u2019s Tea Country"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

\"Morari<\/p>\n

\u2018Manas Rath Yatra\u2019 in Kericho draws inspiration from the Jagannath Rath Yatra and Tulsidas\u2019s unparalleled vision of the Dharma Rath<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Kericho (Kenya), July 24:<\/strong> Renowned spiritual leader Morari Bapu began his 981st Ram Katha today in Kericho, the Kenyan region internationally renowned for its verdant tea plantations. Titled\u00a0\u2018Manas Rath Yatra\u2019<\/strong>, the nine-day Katha will continue until 26 July 2026 at the Dansed Gardens Ground.<\/p>\n

As the annual Jagannath Rath Yatra has just commenced, Bapu dedicated the Katha to the spirit of the sacred journey. He remembered Lord Jagannath and the Rath Yatras of Bhavnagar and Ahmedabad. A Jagannath\u00a0temple\u00a0priest was also\u00a0invited\u00a0from Ahmedabad to Africa for the occasion, creating a ceremonial bridge between India and Kenya.<\/p>\n

Reflecting on the divine family of Jagannath, Subhadra and Balabhadra, Bapu described Krishna as\u00a0Jag Bhadra<\/strong>\u2014the one concerned with the welfare of the entire world and universe.<\/p>\n

The central lines selected for the Katha are from the Lanka Kand of the\u00a0Ram Charit Manas<\/em>, in which Goswami Tulsidas presents his profound description of the\u00a0Dharma Rath<\/strong>, or the chariot of righteousness.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have seen many scriptures, but I have not seen a description of the Dharma Rath like the one given by Goswami Tulsidas,\u201d Bapu said. \u201cTulsi ka Dharma Rath maulik hai. Main zimmedari se bolta hoon<\/strong>\u2014Tulsi\u2019s Dharma Rath is wholly original, and I say this with responsibility.\u201d<\/p>\n

Bapu observed that numerous sacred texts contain descriptions of different kinds of chariots, but Tulsidas\u2019s conception of the Dharma Rath is distinctive and is not commonly found even in the Vedas and Shastras.<\/p>\n

Explaining the deeper meaning of\u00a0maulikta<\/em>, or originality, Bapu said that between the\u00a0laukik<\/em>\u2014the worldly\u2014and the\u00a0alaukik<\/em>\u2014the otherworldly\u2014lies the\u00a0maulik<\/em>. Its meaning is discovered between the lines.<\/p>\n

\u201cA river flows between two banks, but its flow is entirely its own,\u201d he said. \u201cWhen one moves towards\u00a0maulikta<\/em>, one transcends everything.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n
\"Morari<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Bapu particularly highlighted Tulsidas\u2019s depiction of\u00a0shaurya<\/strong>, or valour, and\u00a0dhairya<\/strong>, or patience and fortitude, as the two wheels of the Dharma Rath, calling the conception unparalleled.<\/p>\n

He\u00a0added that listening to Katha is a\u00a0prakriya<\/em>\u00a0of turning inwards: while climbing Mount Everest is an outward ascent, the inward journey is akin to bathing in Lake Manasarovar at Mount Kailash.<\/p>\n

The Divine Name Floating Through the Universe<\/strong><\/p>\n

During the first day\u2019s discourse, Bapu also offered an esoteric interpretation of\u00a0japa<\/em>, or the repeated chanting of the Divine Name.<\/p>\n

He said that the supreme word of the Divine is floating throughout the universe. When a seeker draws each bead of the\u00a0Berkha<\/strong>\u00a0towards oneself during chanting, one is symbolically reaching into the universe and gathering the Holy Name.<\/p>\n

According to Bapu, there are five forms or stages of\u00a0japa<\/em>:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Bona<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014 sowing the Divine Name\u00a0<\/li>\n
  2. Karna<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014 performing japa\u00a0<\/li>\n
  3. Karana<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0getting others to do\u00a0japa\u00a0for you\u00a0<\/li>\n
  4. Hona<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0\u00a0when\u00a0japa\u00a0happens on its own<\/li>\n
  5. Sona<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014 putting japa to rest\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Explaining the deeply esoteric idea of putting japa to sleep, Bapu said that sometimes so much spiritual experience accumulates within a disciple that it becomes like an elephant entering a small hut. At such a stage, even japa may have to be allowed to rest.<\/p>\n

    A Special Return to Kenya After 50 Years<\/strong><\/p>\n

    Kenya holds a special place in Morari Bapu\u2019s spiritual journey. In 1976, he conducted his first Ram Katha outside India in Kenya. Fifty years later, his Kathas have travelled across the world.<\/p>\n

    Bapu paid tribute to the Gujarati and Indian diaspora in Africa for preserving their spiritual and cultural inheritance across generations.<\/p>\n

    \u201cRam, Krishna aur Shiva ki sabhyata ki dhwaja ko phairte rakha hai<\/strong>,\u201d he said, praising the community for keeping the\u00a0flag of the Vedic Sanatana Dharma of Ram, Krishna and Shiva<\/strong>\u00a0flying high in Africa.<\/p>\n

    The Katha has been organised by Satish Modi, who was born in a village close to Kericho and had been waiting for this occasion for 25 years.<\/p>\n

    \n
    \"Morari<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

    \u201cSometimes, what is sown does not bear fruit immediately,\u201d Bapu said. Complimenting Modi\u2019s patience and commitment, he added that he had ensured that the seed did not die during those 25 years.<\/p>\n

    Morari Bapu\u2019s 981st Ram Katha is open to everyone, irrespective of religion, nationality, caste, community or background. Those attending the Katha will be served free vegetarian lunch and dinner every day.<\/p>\n

    Bapu does not accept any payment for conducting a Ram Katha. The discourses and all meals served during the event are completely free of charge.<\/p>\n

    Rooted in the eternal values of\u00a0Satya<\/strong>,\u00a0Prem<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0Karuna<\/strong>\u2014Truth, Love and Compassion\u2014Manas Rath Yatra<\/em>\u00a0carries forward Bapu\u2019s lifelong mission of spreading the light of the\u00a0Ram Charit Manas<\/em>\u00a0and the universal values of Vedic Sanatana Dharma.<\/p>\n

    Event Details<\/strong><\/p>\n

    Katha:<\/strong>\u00a0Manas Rath Yatra
    Katha Number:<\/strong>\u00a0981
    Dates:<\/strong>\u00a018\u201326 July 2026
    Time:<\/strong>\u00a010:00 am onwards daily
    Venue:<\/strong>\u00a0Dansed Gardens Ground, Kericho, Kenya
    Location: View on Google Maps<\/u><\/a><\/strong>
    Entry:<\/strong>\u00a0Open to all and free of charge
    Meals:<\/strong>\u00a0Free vegetarian lunch and dinner daily<\/p>\n

    About Morari Bapu<\/strong><\/h3>\n

    Morari Bapu was born on Mahashivratri in 1946. He has been reciting Ram Kathas for more than 65 years, having begun his spiritual journey at the age of 14 beneath a village tree in Gujarat. He was initiated into the\u00a0Ram Charit Manas<\/em>\u00a0by his grandfather and guru, Tribhuvana Dasji.<\/p>\n

    Drawing from Vedic Sanatana Dharma, popularly known as Hindu Sanatana Dharma, Bapu\u2019s narrations emphasise universal peace and the timeless values of Truth, Love and Compassion. People attending his Kathas come from every region, religion, caste and community.<\/p>\n

    Over the decades, Morari Bapu has conducted 981 Ram Kathas at cities and pilgrimage sites across India and around the world, including Kenya, South Africa, Sri Lanka, the United Kingdom, the United States, Brazil, Australia, Israel and Japan.<\/p>\n

    He recently conducted Kathas at all 12 Jyotirlingas in India while travelling by train and held landmark spiritual gatherings at the United Nations Headquarters in New York and the University of Cambridge. He has also conducted Kathas aboard a ship and an aircraft during a circumnavigation of the globe.<\/p>\n

    Bapu has taken Ram Katha to communities often excluded from mainstream religious spaces, including sex workers and transgender people. He has also supported\u00a0humanitarian initiatives in disaster-affected and conflict-hit regions around the world, including Ukraine and Israel.<\/p>\n

    As a regular practice at every Katha, free vegetarian meals are served as\u00a0prasad<\/em>\u00a0to all who attend.<\/p>\n

    Official Website:<\/strong>
    Chitrakutdham Talgajarda<\/a><\/strong><\/u><\/p>\n

    Watch the Katha Live:<\/strong>
    YouTube \u2013 Morari Bapu<\/strong><\/u><\/a><\/p>\n

    Official Linktree:<\/strong>
    Chitrakutdham Talgajarda<\/strong><\/u><\/a><\/p>\n

    Official Social Media Channels<\/strong><\/p>\n

    Instagram:\u00a0@ChitrakutdhamTalgajarda<\/u><\/a>
    Facebook:\u00a0    Chitrakutdham Talgajarda \u2013 Morari Bapu<\/u><\/a>
    X\/Twitter:\u00a0    @MorariBapu_<\/u><\/a>
    Telegram:\u00a0    Chitrakutdham Talgajarda<\/u><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

    If you object to the content of this press release, please notify us at pr.error.rectification@gmail.com. We will respond and rectify the situation within 24 hours.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    \u2018Manas Rath Yatra\u2019 in Kericho draws inspiration from the Jagannath Rath Yatra and Tulsidas\u2019s unparalleled vision of the Dharma Rath Kericho (Kenya), July 24: Renowned spiritual leader Morari Bapu began … Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":57299,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[23],"tags":[682],"class_list":["post-57298","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-lifestyle","tag-lifestyle","entry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/financialtelegraph.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/57298","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/financialtelegraph.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/financialtelegraph.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/financialtelegraph.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/financialtelegraph.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=57298"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/financialtelegraph.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/57298\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/financialtelegraph.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/57299"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/financialtelegraph.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=57298"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/financialtelegraph.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=57298"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/financialtelegraph.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=57298"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}