When Lord Swaminarayan visited Surat in 1881, he presented his turban and Shriphal to Parsi Kotwal Ardesar. The turban has remained with the Parsi family for 199 years
The turban is displayed annually for darshan on Bhai Dooj.
A crowd of devotees gathered on Bhai Dooj in Ghodapur to view the turban given by Lord Swaminarayan 200 years ago.
When Swaminarayan visited Surat in 1881, he presented his turban and Shriphal to Parsi Kotwal Ardesar. This turban has remained with the Parsi family for 199 years, safeguarded with the utmost care. Believing the ascetic’s presence is with them, the family willingly shares darshan of the turban with other devotees as well.
Significance of Swaminarayan’s Turban
The tradition behind the turban is rooted in Lord Swaminarayan’s visit to Surat in 1881. After a brief stay, the yogi, pleased with Ardesar Kotwal’s service, gave a Shriphal and his turban to Kotwal before leaving on Magshar Sud Trayodashi of Samvat 1881.
The turban was passed down to Ardesar’s son Jahangirshah, but following his untimely death, it was given to Sorabji Adalji Wadia by Jahangirshah’s widow, Doshibai Kotwal. Now, the third generation, represented by Tehmasp and his son Kershasp, continues to preserve the turban with devotion.