Pune Prarthana Samaj

23/04/2026

PUNE PRARTHANA SAMAJ (ESTD. 1870)

MAHARSHI SHINDE BIRTH ANNIVERSARY
Paying rich tributes to Mahrshi Vitthal Ramji Shinde on his 153rd birth anniversary. 🙏🙏🙏

PUNE PRARTHANA SAMAJ (Estd. 1870)

MAHARSHI V. R. SHINDE
(23 April 1873 - 2 January 1944)
Paying rich tributes to the selfless missionary of Brahmo Samaj, Maharshi Karmaveer Vitthal Ramji Shinde on his 149 th Birth Anniversary. He devoted his entire life for the cause of depressed classes.
Articles highlighting glimpses of life and work of Maharshi Shinde may be accessed using the following links :
https://puneprarthanasamaj.org/2020/04/22/maharshi-vitthal-ramji-shinde/
https://puneprarthanasamaj.org/2020/04/30/maharshi-vitthal-ramji-shinde-2/

15/04/2026

PUNE PRARTHANA SAMAJ (ESTD. 1870)

CHANDRAKANT NAIK IN PRARTHANA SAMAJ
A rich homage is paid to Pt. Chandrakant Naik who passed away recently(11April 2026). He had a voluminous contribution as singer, music composer and quality enhancer in the spiritual music (programmes on different platforms in Pune and outside, and also 4 audio cassettes) of Pune Prarthana Samaj from 1990 to 2018. A few of his renditions are available on the utube channel of Pune Prarthana Samaj.
https://youtu.be/hmgANgMevZ0?si=LbdLskA2v7PMM--I
https://youtu.be/hmgANgMevZ0?si=ZeRiiLZ_10LTFuPe
https://youtu.be/fgOHAfIChhI?si=AomUioznroXdKdvH
https://youtu.be/gyG9veKmb-E?si=C810_qxH2hhUZxYd
https://youtu.be/iTNhSYjrijA?si=1ZaTPGdJnnZBjMJQ
https://youtu.be/sbk38kQIltI?si=-4Xe0xOH2A4MU9Wl
https://youtu.be/tIaS_dQ6U-E?si=IuP113mnFnd4bPum
https://youtu.be/dkV0Clog-qM?si=SDuj0JBblZ7iQeyO
https://youtu.be/YVhcqK59ZPw?si=zTjon0FQGc0_fVZi
https://youtu.be/aIuoWEhQEeI?si=76Z2xwRFV1rsg2ey

15/04/2026

PUNE PRARTHANA SAMAJ (ESTD. 1870)

HOMAGE TO PT. CHANDRAKANT NAIK
Homage is paid to Pt. Chandrakant Naik who started his last journey untimely at 61 on 11th April 2026. He was an accomplished classical singer and also adept harmonium player. As a Gurukul disciple he received training in vocal classical music by staying with the music maestro Pt. Jitendra Abhisheki whom he accompanied on harmonium in 500 concerts.
Pt. Chandrakant Naik was associated with Pune Prarthana Samaj since 1990 till 2018. During this long period he dedicated his harmonium accompaniment to more than 150 spiritual music programmes conducted by Pune Prarthana Samaj music group in Harimandir and also on various public platforms in and outside Pune. Since 1996 he also set music to lyrical compositions of mediaeval Saints of Maharashtra and rendered those himself during the spiritual music programmes of Pune Prarthana Samaj leading to elevation of the musical quality. His contribution in the four audio cassettes brought out by Pune Prarthana since 1991 was very valuable.

Members of Pune Prarthana Samaj will always remember the dedicated contribution of Pandit Chandrakant Naik.
May God bless his soul with eternal peace. 🙏🙏🙏

11/04/2026

PUNE PRARTHANA SAMAJ (ESTD. 1870)

MAHATMA PHULE: RICH TRIBUTES
Paying rich tributes to Mahatma Jotirao Phule on his 199 th Birth Anniversary.
Mahatma Jotirao Phule was the first Indian to start a school for children of downtrodden in 1852 and a girls school in 1848. He was honoured publicly for this work by the British Government in 1852.
Mahatma Phule was also associated with the work of Prarthana Samaj and participated in some joint programmes. He composed many lyrics termed as AKHAND in praise of the CREATOR. One of his Ahkhand which is often included in the Upasanas in Prarthana Samaj "Sarvancha Nirmik Aahe Ek Dhani" is available on the utube channel of Pune Prarthana Samaj and may be accessed using the following link :
https://youtu.be/__bwzFC1crM?si=kjRvDCI18crYCHEY

07/04/2026

PUNE PRARTHANA SAMAJ (ESTD. 1870)

CHAITROTSAV UPASANA
Smt. Rekha Shahani of Bombay Brahmo Samaj conducted the CHAITROTSAV UPASANA on Sunday 5-4-2026. Installments of the scholarships sponsored by Pune Prarthana Samaj as well as some well-wishing donars were disbursed to the students at her hands after the upasana. Non-members also participated in the upasana.

06/04/2026

PUNE PRARTHANA SAMAJ (ESTD. 1870)

PRARTHANA SAMAJ & BHAGWAT DHARMA
Shri Abhay Tilak (former Head, Saint Tukaram Chair, S. P. Pune University) delivered an illuminating speech on "Prarthana Samaj and Bhagwat Dharma" on 4-4-2026 during the CHAITROTSAV of Pune Prarthana Samaj. In his speech he brought into light the link joining Bhagwad Geeta, Bhagwat Dharma adopted and propagated by mediaeval Saints of Maharashtra and approach of Prarthana Samaj of irradication of all kinds of discrimination.
The speech may be accessed by using the following link :
https://youtu.be/ciqn5BjvPd0?si=x3Fvy3IA16KeWP6B

31/03/2026

PUNE PRARTHANA SAMAJ (ESTD. 1870)

159 YEARS OF PRARTHANA SAMAJ
Prarthana Samaj was established in Mumbai on 31st March 1867 with the aim to bring all the factions of the society together, irradiate every kind of discrimination and promote human values. For this purpose the means adopted was PRAYER TO THE ONE AND ONLY GOD : THE FORMLESS ALL-PERVADING BRAHMA. The Monotheism (adopted in many religions) was derived from the most ancient scriptures of human history - The Vedas and the subsequent Upanishads.
The phrase "Only Truth Wins" from the Manduk Upanishad was accepted as the Motto which appeared on the cover page of "Subodh Patrika" the mouth piece of Bombay Prarthana Samaj.

30/03/2026

PUNE PRARTHANA SAMAJ (ESTD. 1870)

CHAITROTSAV - 2026
The HARIMANDIR of Pune Prarthana Samaj was consecrated on 11th April 1909 which was CHAITRA VADYA 6 of the Marathi calendar; CHAITROTSAV is celebrated in Pune Prarthana Samaj in the commemoration. This year the Chaitra Vadya 6 falls on 8th April; and CHAITROTSAV will be celebrated from 4th to 12th April 2026. All are cordially invited for this spritual festival.

14/03/2026

PUNE PRARTHANA SAMAJ (ESTD. 1870)

VISIT OF HERITAGE WALK GROUP
A Heritage Walk group "The Western Routes Foundation" visited Harimandir of Pune Prarthana Samaj on Saturday 14 March 2026. A special Prayer Service and talk on History of Pune Prarthana Samaj and Harimandir was organised on behalf of Pune Prarthana Samaj for the benefit of the participants.

26/01/2026

PUNE PRARTHANA SAMAJ (ESTD. 1870)

RAMA-MADHAV RANADE AWARDS -2026
On the occasion of 125th death anniversary of Justice Mahadeo Govind Ranade (16-01-26), Rama-Madhav Ranade Awards were given away to Dr. Pramod Khandekar and Smt. Meera Badve on behalf of Rama-Madhav Ranade Memorial Committee formed by coalliance of six historic institutions including Pune Prarthana Samaj in Pune, founded by/closely associated with Justice M. G. Ranade and his wife Ramabai Ranade. The chief guest Shri. Milind Joshi, Chairman, Maharashtra Sahitya Parishad, gave a talk on relevance today of the voluminous contribution of Justice Ranade which resulted in the 19th century renaissance in western India.

26/01/2026

PUNE PRARTHANA SAMAJ (ESTD. 1870)

NATIONAL REPUBLIC DAY - 2026
The Indian National Tricolour was unfurled and saluted in Pune Prarthana Samaj to celebrate the 77th Republic Day.

23/01/2026

PUNE PRARTHANA SAMAJ (ESTD. 1870)

NETAJI SUBHASH ON RAMMOHUN ROY
Rich tributes to Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose on his Birth Anniversary.
Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose in his book ‘The India Struggle’ called Raja Rammoun Roy “the apostle of a religious revival” in India. Bose said, “He urged a return to the original principles of Vedantism and for a total rejection of all the religious and social impurities that had crept into Hinduism in later times. He also advocated an all-around regeneration of the social and national life and the acceptance of all that is useful and beneficial in the modern life of Europe. Raja Ram Mohun Roy, therefore, stands out against the dawn of the new awakening in India as the prophet of the new age.”