Cambridge, Massachusetts | 19th August 2026 — Tulsi Jayanti, the birth anniversary of Goswami Tulsidas, author of the Ramcharitmanas, was observed on Wednesday at Sanders Theatre, Harvard University, as part of Morari Bapu’s nine-day Ram Katha, ‘Manas Guru Prasad’. In a historic first, the Tulsi, Vyas, Valmiki and Ratnavali awards — presented every year since 2010 at Talgajarda, Gujarat, as part of the Tulsi Janmotsav — were conferred outside India.
The milestone marks a significant moment in the 16-year-old tradition initiated by Morari Bapu to honour individuals who have made distinguished contributions to preserving, interpreting and carrying forward the literary, spiritual and cultural legacy of Goswami Tulsidas and the tradition of Ram Katha.
For Bapu, taking the Tulsi Jayanti celebration to the United States is also a way of bringing a centuries-old Indian literary and spiritual tradition into conversation with a global audience. The celebration at Sanders Theatre, Harvard brought together spiritual leaders, scholars, kathakars, musicians, artists and members of the academic community, reflecting the continuing interest in the Ramayana and the Ramcharitmanas across cultures and disciplines.
On the auspicious occasion of Tulsi Jayanti, the Tulsi Janmotsav and Global Awards Ceremony was held on August 19, 2026. Held under the spiritual guidance of Pujya Morari Bapu as part of his Manas Guru Prasad Ram Katha, the ceremony conferred eight prestigious awards on nine distinguished scholars, spiritual leaders and cultural contributors, with the Valmiki Award being jointly presented to UC Berkeley professors, Prof. Sally J. Sutherland Goldman and Prof. Robert Goldman. The Valmiki Award was also presented to Osaka University’s Prof. Madoka Fukuoka. The Vyas Award was conferred upon Columbia University’s Prof. John Stratton Hawley, US-based scholar Dr. Ashwin Bhai Kantilal Rajgor, and renowned spiritual orator Devi Chitralekha(India). The Tulsi Award was presented to UT Austin’s Prof. Rupert Snell and community leader Piyush Bhai Mehta, while Harvard University’s Prof. Diana L. Eck received the Ratnavali Award for her work in comparative religion and India studies. Her contribution was crucial to facilitating this gathering at Harvard. The diverse group of awardees reflects the growing international engagement with India’s classical literature and the enduring global relevance of the Ramayana and the legacy of Goswami Tulsidas.
Bapu on the occasion said, “Patram Pushpam Phalam — Jaise Parmatma ke charanon mein samarpit karte hain, Pushpa bhi us ne khilaye, Patra bhi tehniyon ko usi ne diye hain, phal usi ne lagaye hain, phir bhi hum wahi lekar usi ko samarpit karte hain. Mai mere hruday ke vichaar prastut kar raha hu.
Bapu added, “Mere man mein, mere dil mein, Tribhuvan kripa ke karan, Maa Savitri ke karan itni prasannata rehti hai ki mere desh ki Vyas Peethon ki vandana ho. aur is vandana ke upakram mein, aaj jin-jin mahanubhavo ko ye Vyas Award, Valmiki Award, Tulsi Award aur Ma Ratna devi ke naam se award pradan kiya gaya aur aap sab ne hamari vandana kabool ki isliye mere sabhi sadhu santon ka aashirwad lekar ham aapko pranaam karte hain. Ham aapki vandana karen aur aap thank you kahen ye mujhe raas nahi aata. Isiliye aapka pratibhav aapki aankhon se aapke dil ki dhadkanon se mai pratibhav samajh sakta hun aur aapko pranaam karta hun.
Paavan Popat OBE, the lead organiser for this Ram Katha, said, “Through Bapu’s teachings of Truth, Love and Compassion, Ram Katha offers something deeply universal — a sense of acceptance, joy and love that transcends geography and culture. Bringing the Tulsi Janmotsav and its awards to Harvard is a natural extension of that journey, taking the timeless wisdom of the Ramcharitmanas to a global audience that is increasingly seeking its values and ideals.”
Bapu initiated the Tulsi Jayanti programme in 2010 to recognise those who have dedicated their lives to preserving, interpreting and carrying forward the tradition of Ram Katha and the Ramcharitmanas. Each year since, the Tulsi Janmotsav has brought together saints, scholars, kathakars and other distinguished contributors at Talgajarda, Gujarat. In 2026, the programme travelled to the USA, bringing the tradition of Tulsi Janmotsav to a global audience.
This international celebration of Tulsi Jayanti at Harvard marks a new chapter bringing the story, poetry and spiritual thought of Tulsidas to a new audience and a very different setting, while keeping the essence of the tradition intact.
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