BELUR | February 19, 2026: The serene banks of the Hooghly resonated with the chants of "Jai Thakur" as Belur Math, the global headquarters of the Ramakrishna Math and Mission, commenced the celebration of the 191st Birth Anniversary (Tithi Puja) of the 19th-century saint, Sri Ramakrishna Paramhansa.

The auspicious day began at the break of dawn, specifically at 4:30 AM, with the traditional Mangal Arati in the main temple. Devotional songs performed by monks and brahmacharis that filled the air with spiritual fervor. Vedic chanting and a sacred fire ritual (Homa) were conducted, drawing thousands of devotees from across the state.

Both the Prime Minister and the Chief Minister of West Bengal took to social media and official channels to offer their deep respects to the "Saint of Dakshineswar."

With the massive influx of pilgrims, the Howrah Police and Belur Math volunteers have implemented strict crowd control measures. Special ferries have been arranged from various ghats in Kolkata to facilitate easy transport for devotees.

While today marks the Tithi Puja (actual lunar birth date), the grand Public Celebration (Sadharan Utsav) is scheduled for the upcoming Sunday, February 22, which is expected to draw an even larger congregation.