On January 5, 2026, the 133rd Avirbhav Divas (birth anniversary) of Sri Sri Paramahansa Yogananda was celebrated on the site of his birth in the city of Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, India. Monastics from Self-Realization Fellowship (SRF) and Yogoda Satsanga Society of India (YSS), and YSS devotees and friends from across the state, participated in the morning programme.
The day’s celebrations began with a Prabhat Feri (procession) along the street approaching Paramahansaji’s birth site. SRF sannyasinis led a beautifully decorated, flower-adorned palanquin carrying a large colour photo of the blessed Guru, Paramahansa Yoganandaji. The procession of around 125 devotees and friends stretched down the length of this street as it neared the sacred birth site of Gurudeva, accompanied by continuous joyous chanting of “Jai Guru.”
This first-ever public celebration of Gurudeva Paramahansa Yogananda’s Janmotsav at the site of his birth was made possible after the state government’s acquisition of the property and a public announcement last year that a shrine is being constructed on the site to honour the great Guru’s life and work. This shrine will be maintained and operated by Yogoda Satsanga Society of India. When completed, it will be a beautiful pilgrimage site for the devotees and friends of Paramahansa Yoganandaji, and will feature a special shrine room constructed in part from bricks collected from the original house that existed on this site; a museum; an audio/video presentation room; and a large meditation hall.
The Prabhat Feri was followed by an hour-long programme in which around 225 people were in attendance, including 150 devotees and 75 guests and visitors. Some senior government officials were also present. A decorated pandal was set up to celebrate this special occasion.
Swami Vishwananda performs aarti and addresses the gathering.
The programme began with senior sannyasi Swami Vishwananda Giri performing aarti to our beloved Guru. This was followed by chanting by the brahmacharinis from SRF. Swami Vishwananda then addressed the gathering, sharing his joy at celebrating Paramahansaji’s 133rd Janmotsav anniversary at this sacred spot. He conveyed global gratitude for the Gorakhpur function, on behalf of the YSS/SRF President and Spiritual Head Swami Chidananda Giri, the YSS/SRF monastics, and the worldwide spiritual family of the great Guru. He also thanked the Uttar Pradesh State Government and all involved in the decision to establish a memorial shrine at the site of Yoganandaji’s birth. He shared large, coloured poster renderings of the original house where Gurudeva was born, and of the now-under-construction shrine. This was received with appreciation and applause from the audience.
Swami Vishwananda shows the posters of the original house in which the great Guru was born and the new shrine that is being built.
This was followed by brief talks by two of the SRF sannyasinis who are presently on a spiritual pilgrimage to India, Ranjana Mai and Yogamayee Mai. They read passages from YSS/SRF publications Autobiography of a Yogi and Mejda, sharing inspiring anecdotes from Paramahansa Yoganandaji’s early childhood days in Gorakhpur during the first eight years of his life. Swami Vishwananda pointed out that India has long been the motherland of countless great souls who devoted their lives to the spiritual upliftment of all humankind. Born in Gorakhpur, Paramahansa Yogananda became one of these. Swami Vishwananda shared these words from Sri Sri Daya Mata, a direct disciple of the great Guru, and former president and sanghamata of his worldwide YSS/SRF organization for over 50 years:
“Our beloved Guru was so humble that in his autobiography he extolled many sages above himself. But in his God-ordained mission, he is the world avatar of this age; and few of his spiritual stature have walked these mortal shores. One with the Infinite, he lived, moved, and had his being in the ocean of Spirit. He radiated unconditional love; and so fathomless and sublime was his wisdom that we overawed disciples knew that we were drinking from the fount of his mind the very essence of the ponderous Vedas. He could have enthralled millions with his miraculous powers, yet he sought only to stir love for God in the hearts of true devotees, through the greater power of his own God-intoxicated love.”
The YSS/SRF sannyasis, sannyasinis, brahmacharis, and brahmacharinis distributed prasad to more than 400 attendees.
Prasad distribution and pushpanjali (offering of flowers).
In the afternoon, the SRF sannyasinis and brahmacharinis led a one-hour group meditation at the same site, which was attended by more than 50 devotees. Everyone present thanked God and the Gurus for this blessed day on which Gurudeva’s presence was felt by all.
