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Commemorative Days

Sacred dates and observances in the life of Avatar Meher Baba, celebrated by devotees around the world.

Upcoming Observances

First Dhuni Anniversary

First Dhuni Anniversary

November 10

In 3 days
Dhuni Day

Dhuni Day

12th of every month

In 5 days
Mehera's Birthday

Mehera's Birthday

December 22

In 45 days
Amartithi

Amartithi

January 31

In 85 days

Naming & Proclamation

Two foundational moments in the life of Avatar Meher Baba: the day his early disciples first called him by the name 'Meher Baba' (the Compassionate Father), and the day he himself proclaimed his Avatarhood with the cry 'Avatar Meher Baba Ki Jai!'

The Name 'Meher Baba'

مهر بابا · मेहेर बाबा

Meaning

‘Compassionate Father.’ A name formed from the Persian *meher* (love, kindness, grace) and *baba* (father, revered elder).

Date: 1920 (he was 26)

Place: Nasik (his men gathered from Poona)

By 1920, devoted disciples had gathered around Merwan Seth, as Meher Baba was then known. When his men came together at Nasik, Sayyed Saheb proposed changing his title. Several names were put forward and rejected — among them ‘Mehru Baba’, meaning Great Father — until Sayyed Saheb himself proposed ‘Meher Baba’, the Compassionate Father. It was endorsed by all at once, and he returned to Poona newly named Meher Baba. The name later became widely known as he began his public mission as a Master, around the opening of Manzil-e-Meem in Bombay (June 1922).

After several names were suggested and rejected, Sayyed Saheb himself proposed the name Meher Baba — meaning Compassionate Father — and it was immediately endorsed by all.

Sources

First Proclamation of ‘Avatar Meher Baba Ki Jai!’

अवतार मेहेर बाबा की जय

Meaning

‘Hail to Avatar Meher Baba. May He be victorious, in the sense that God is victorious over our lower self.’

Date: 10 February 1954, ~1 a.m. (his 60th birthday by the Parsi calendar)

Place: Meherastana, a clay hut in Mahewa village, Hamirpur district (Uttar Pradesh, India)

During the Hamirpur sahavas, Meher Baba himself spelled out ‘Avatar Meher Baba Ki Jai!’ on his alphabet board for Eruch Jessawala to read aloud. The gathered devotees then took it up and repeated it. Bhau Kalchuri records that this was the first time Baba himself had spelled the phrase, and the moment is remembered as his first public declaration of Avatarhood in this incarnation. It opened the cycle of major declarations that followed: Final Declaration (30 Sept 1954), Clarification (20 Nov 1954), Confirmation (3 Feb 1955), and Decision (10 Apr 1955).

This was the first time Baba himself had spelled on the board ‘Avatar Meher Baba Ki Jai.’

Sources

Major Commemorative Days

Amartithi

Amartithi

January 31 (since 1969)

Eternal Day - The day Meher Baba dropped His physical form

Key Observance

Silence at noon 12:00-12:15

•Meher Baba passed away at 12:15 PM on January 31, 1969 at Meherazad

•His body was kept for 7 days without any signs of decay

•Thousands of pilgrims visit Meherabad for 2-3 days

Lord Meher — p. 5402 (the Mahasamadhi, 31 Jan 1969)
Meher Baba's Birthday

Meher Baba's Birthday

February 25 (since 1894)

The birth of Avatar Meher Baba

Key Observance

Prayers at Samadhi from 5:00 AM

•Born at 5:00 AM on February 25, 1894 at Sassoon Hospital, Pune

•Birth name: Merwan Sheriar Irani

•Parents: Sheriar Irani & Shireen Irani (Zoroastrian)

Lord Meher — p. 107 (the birth of Merwan, 25 Feb 1894)
Silence Day

Silence Day

July 10 (since 1925)

Commemorating the beginning of Baba's 44-year silence

Key Observance

24-hour silence (July 9 midnight to July 10 midnight)

•Meher Baba began His silence on July 10, 1925

•The silence lasted 44 years until His passing in 1969

•He communicated through alphabet boards and hand gestures

Lord Meher — p. 601 (the silence begins, Friday 10 July 1925)

Other Significant Days

Dhuni Day

Dhuni Day

12th of every month

Monthly

Sacred fire ceremony symbolizing inner purification

Sacred fire lighting at sunset

Lord Meher — p. 2245 (monthly Dhuni established, 12 Dec 1941)
New Life Day

New Life Day

October 16

The beginning of Baba's transformative 'New Life' phase

Evening commemorative program

Lord Meher — p. 2783 (the New Life begins, 16 Oct 1949)
Mehera Remembrance Day

Mehera Remembrance Day

May 20

Remembering Mehera J. Irani, Baba's closest female disciple

Special programs and remembrance

Mehera's Birthday

Mehera's Birthday

December 22

Birthday of Mehera J. Irani (celebrated per Zoroastrian calendar)

Special celebrations at Meherabad and Meherazad

First Dhuni Anniversary

First Dhuni Anniversary

November 10

Anniversary of the first Dhuni fire that ended the drought

Special Dhuni ceremony

Lord Meher — p. 622 (the first Dhuni, 10 Nov 1925)

Samadhi Prayer Schedule(IST)

The Samadhi is Meher Baba's tomb-shrine at Meherabad, where His body rests. Daily prayers are held here, connecting devotees worldwide with His eternal presence.

7:00 AM
  • • Parvardigar Prayer (Universal Prayer)
  • • Repentance Prayer
  • • Arti (English and Indian)
  • • Bhajans and songs (~40 min)

Live broadcast on YouTube

7:00 PM
  • • Parvardigar Prayer (Universal Prayer)
  • • Repentance Prayer
  • • Arti (English and Indian)
  • • Bhajans and songs (~30 min)

Live broadcast - Evening prayers at 5:30 PM on Dhuni days

Samadhi Hours

Open daily: 6:00 AM - 7:45 PM

365 days a year • No reservation required

Meherazad Visit Schedule(IST)

Meherazad was Meher Baba's private residence from 1944 until His passing in 1969. Located near Ahmednagar, India, it remains preserved as it was during His lifetime.

Tuesday11:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Thursday11:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Sunday11:00 AM - 12:30 PM

Music, poetry, plays, magic shows, films, and stories from those who met Baba

Seasonal Schedule

Open: July 2 - March 14

Closed: March 15 - July 1

Key Historical Dates

1894Feb 25

Born at the David Sassoon Hospital, Poona, at 5 a.m.

1913May

Met Hazrat Babajan for the first time at Poona and was embraced by her

1914Jan

Hazrat Babajan kissed Merwan on the forehead and gave him God-realization

1915Apr

Met Narayan Maharaj for the first time at Kedgaon

1915

Met Tajuddin Baba for the first time at Vaki Shariff near Nagpur

1915Dec

Met Sai Baba for the first time at Shirdi and was hailed by him as "Parvardigar"

1915Dec

Met Upasni Maharaj for the first time at the Khandoba Temple in Shirdi

1918Oct 15

Sai Baba dropped his body at Shirdi

1920

Sayyed Saheb proposed the name "Meher Baba" at Nasik

1922Jun 7

Moved into Manzil-e-Meem in Bombay

1923May

Stayed at Arangaon and renamed it Meherabad

1925Jul 10

Began his lifelong silence at Meherabad

1925Aug 17

Tajuddin Baba dropped his body at Nagpur

1925Nov 10

Had the first dhuni lit at Meherabad at 11 p.m., and heavy rain fell an hour later

1927Jan 7

Began using the alphabet board

1931Sep 11

Landed at Marseilles, France, and set foot in Europe for the first time

1931Sep 21

Hazrat Babajan dropped her body at Poona

1940Nov 11

The mandali bought at auction the Pimpalgaon land that became Meherazad

1941Dec 12

Ordered at Meherabad that the dhuni be lit on the 12th of every month

1941Dec 24

Upasni Maharaj dropped his body at Sakori

1945Sep 3

Narayan Maharaj dropped his body at Bangalore

1949Oct 16

Began the New Life at the railway crossing near Ahmednagar station

1952May 24

Suffered his first automobile accident near Prague, Oklahoma

1954Oct 7

Gave up the alphabet board

1956Feb 13

Directed at Satara that his birthday be celebrated every year on February 25, not by the Zoroastrian calendar

1956Dec 2

Suffered his second automobile accident near Satara

1962Nov

Held at Guruprasad, Poona, the East-West Gathering, his last great gathering of Eastern and Western lovers

1968Jul 30

Declared, "My work is done. It is completed 100 percent to my satisfaction"

1969Jan 31

Dropped his body at Meherazad at 12:15 p.m.

1989May 20

Mehera J. Irani died at Meherazad