Religion:Akhand Harinam Saptah

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Short description: Week-long devotional practice dedicated to Lord Vishnu in Hinduism
Akhand Harinam Saptah
अखंड हरिनाम सप्ताह
View of an Akhand Harinam Saptah at Annasaheb Garden in Koparkhairane sector 8 of Navi Mumbai. Photographed by Santosh Chaudhary
TypeA week-long devotional practice
ClassificationHinduism
DeityLord Vishnu
DeityLord Vitthala
RegionMaharashtra
Other name(s)Samudayik Dnyaneshwari Parayan

Akhand Harinam Saptah (Marathi: अखंड हरिनाम सप्ताह) is a week-long devotional program dedicated to Lord Vishnu in Hinduism often organised in the state of Maharashtra in India. It involves devotional singing, bhajans, kirtans, and readings of saintly literature, etc. It is the part of Varkari tradition in the region.[1][2] During the devotional event, Harinaam is chanted majorly. Several Marathi devotional songs dedicated to Lord Vishnu and his incarnation Lord Vitthal are sung by the devotees.[3][4][5]

Rituals and observances

Every day and night during the week-long devotional program are divided into different rituals. It begins with Kakada Bhajan from 4 am to 6 am in the morning. Similarly from 7 am to 9 am, Dnyaneshwari Parayan is performed. After that, Gatha Bhajan is conducted from 11 am to 1 PM and then next from 1 PM to 4 pm, Shrimad Bhagwat Katha is preached by Pandit in the afternoon. At 6 pm in the evening, Haripath is recited. Similarly at 9 pm in night, Kirtan Sohala is performed. After that in the midnight from 11 pm to 4 am, Harijagar is sung.[3]

View of the rituals at night during the Akhand Harinam Saptah at Koparkhairane in Navi Mumbai

On the last day of the Akhand Harinam Saptah, the religious ceremony is concluded by a grand feast known as Mahaprasad Bhoj. In the feast devotees are provided food as Mahaprasad of Lord Vishnu.

View of the Mahaprasad Bhoj

References

  1. ↑ "खारघरमध्ये राष्ट्रीय वारकरी अखंड हरिनाम सप्ताह, देशभरातून हजारो वारकऱ्यांचा सहभाग" (in mr). 2024-01-30. https://www.loksatta.com/navimumbai/in-panvel-at-kharghar-akhand-harinam-saptah-between-4-to-12-february-css-98-4184957/. 
  2. ↑ "CM Eknath Shinde to attend Akhand Harinam Saptah to be held in Kalyan". The Times of India. 2024-01-01. ISSN 0971-8257. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/thane/cm-eknath-shinde-to-attend-akhand-harinam-saptah-to-be-held-in-kalyan/articleshow/106458975.cms. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "अखंड हरिनाम सप्ताह आयोजनास १३३ वर्षांची परंपरा" (in mr). 2021-02-05. https://www.lokmat.com/parabhani/133-years-tradition-organizing-akhand-harinam-saptah-a689/. 
  4. ↑ "टाकेदला अखंड हरिनाम सप्ताहाची सांगता" (in mr). 2021-02-09. https://www.lokmat.com/nashik/taked-ends-akhand-harinam-week-a321/. 
  5. ↑ "देऊळगाव माळी येथे कार्तिक यात्रा महोत्सवाची महाप्रसादाने केली सांगता:सोहळ्यात श्रीमद् भागवत कथा, अखंड हरिनाम सप्ताह व ज्ञानेश्वरी पारायण‎". Divya Marathi. https://divyamarathi.bhaskar.com/local/maharashtra/akola/buldhana/news/kartik-yatra-festival-concluded-with-mahaprasad-at-deulgaon-mali-shrimad-bhagwat-katha-akhand-harinam-saptah-and-dnyaneshwari-parayan-were-recited-during-the-ceremony-136356320.html.