RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat to inaugurate the centenary year; 726th birth anniversary of Jagadguru Ramanandacharya to be commemorated
2026.01.09 (Vrindavan Today News): The centenary celebrations of Nabhapith Sudama Kuti, a prominent spiritual centre of the Ramanandi tradition in Vrindavan, will commence on January 10 with a series of religious rituals and cultural programmes. The ten-day-long festival will continue until January 20 and will be inaugurated by Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat.
Sudama Kuti was established nearly a century ago on the banks of the Yamuna by the revered Ramanandi saint Sant Sudamadas, who dedicated his life to spiritual practice, cow protection, service to saints, and social welfare. Along with deep spiritual pursuits, he initiated enduring projects such as goseva (cow service), annakshetra (free community kitchen), saint service, Vedic education, charitable medical services, and welfare for Vedic students. These traditions continue to this day.
Providing details of the celebrations, Nabhapithadhishwar Swami Sutikshnadas said that Sant Sudamadas lived a life of extreme simplicity. He sustained himself through madhukari (seeking alms) from local residents, offering food first to Thakurji and visiting saints, often remaining hungry himself so that others could be fed. This spirit of selfless service remains the foundation of the ashram’s activities.
A grand Shobha Yatra will be taken out from the ashram on the morning of January 10. The formal inauguration of the centenary celebrations will take place at 3 pm at the Kumbh Kshetra, where Mohan Bhagwat will formally open the event. Several eminent personalities are expected to attend the festival, including Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma, and Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, along with saints, scholars, and devotees from across the country.
The celebrations will also mark the 726th birth anniversary of Jagadguru Ramanandacharya. On January 11, a large congregation of saints will assemble under the leadership of Mahant Amar Das. A Vidvat Sangoshthi (scholars’ symposium) will be organised, and daily spiritual discourses will be delivered, including special sessions by Shri Hit Ambarish from 3 pm onwards.
At the specially constructed grand Yagyashala at the Kumbh Kshetra, a Shri Ram Mahayagya will be conducted under the guidance of Yagyacharya Vishnukant Shastri and Acharya Mridulkant Shastri. On January 20, the concluding day, a Chunari Manorath will be held at Devraha Baba Ghat at 9 am, followed by the Rajat Tuladan Mahotsav at 3 pm.
During the ten-day festival, the Kumbh Kshetra has been developed on the lines of a religious fair, with arrangements for devotees from different states to stay on site. Special attractions for children, including swings, merry-go-rounds, and a toy train, have also been set up to make the event family-friendly.
RSS Chief’s Schedule in Vrindavan
According to sources, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat will visit several religious sites on this day. At around 10 am, he will reach the Chandrodaya Mandir, where he will offer prayers at the deity of Shri Radha Vrindavan Chandra and visit the kutir of Srila Prabhupada. He will then attend the centenary triggering event at Nabhapith Sudama Kuti in the afternoon and spend nearly two hours at the ashram.
The centenary celebrations of Sudama Kuti are expected to be a landmark spiritual and cultural event, reflecting a century-old legacy of devotion, service, and the living traditions of the Ramanandi sect in the sacred land of Vrindavan.
