Is Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati Jayanti a Public Holiday?
Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati Jayanti is regarded as an optional public holiday in India. This means that all the offices, public, private or government, schools, academic institutions, colleges, universities remain open and fully functional on this day.
Also, most businesses, retail shops, shopping malls, post offices and banks will also remain open and engage in public dealing. However, some companies may choose to declare a holiday on this day or employees can wish to take a half or full day off.
Who was Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati?
According to the Hindu Panchang, the birth anniversary of Maharishi Swami Dayanand Saraswati, the founder of the Arya Samaj and the great thinker and social reformer of modern India, is celebrated on the Dashami or tenth day of the Krishna Paksha in the Hindu month of Phalgun. All the Vedic institutions and religious establishments in India celebrate this day with great pomp and enthusiasm.
Dayanand Saraswati denounced the ritualistic ideologies prominently residing in the British India and gave his contribution towards reviving the Vedic principles in the society. He was hailed as the “Makers of Modern India” by both S. Radhakrishnan and Sri Aurobindo.
Several well-known personalities got inspired by the preachings of Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati, such as Shaheed Bhagat Singh, Madan Lal Dhingra, Ram Prasad Bismil, Ashfaq Ullah Khan, Lala Lajpat Rai to name a few.
He began walking on the path of Sanyas or Asceticism from his childhood and openly advocated the principles of Reincarnation, Brahmacharya, Celibacy, Karma and much more. He believed in women rights and preached about how women were oppressed in society and must be given an equal opportunity and right to education.
Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati Jayanti History
As per the Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati Jayanti History, Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati was born as Mool Shankar Tiwari in an influential Hindu Brahmin family to Karshanji Lalji Kapadi and Yashodabai. He was named Mool Shankar Tiwari because as per Vedic Astrology, he was born the Sagittarius zodiac sign and Mool Nakshatra.
Indulging into asceticism from early childhood, he spent twenty five long years to attain a deeper meaning about life and trying to find its true essence. He is titled as the founder of the “Arya Samaj” in the year 1875 with the motto: “All Actions Should Be Performed With The Prime Objective Of Benefiting Mankind.”
He is known to be the author of more than sixty works, that are globally idolized and used as a foundation to attain a deeper meaning towards life. Some of his major works include Sanskarvidhi, Satyarth Prakash, Rigvedadi Bhashya Bhumika, Satyarth Bhumika, Yajurved Bhashyam and Rigved Bhashyam (up to 7/61/2).
Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati Jayanti Celebrations Across India
On the day of Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati Jayanti, the great monk is revered by remembering his preachings and trying to move on the path he showed to mankind. Since he was a great man and a noble scholar, his contributions to society are remembered.
Several schools and academic institutions hold debate competitions with the topic based on one of his ideologies. His message about peace, equality and brotherhood is spread by his devotees.
Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati Jayanti Observances
| Year | Weekday | Date | Name | Holiday Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Fri | 1 March | Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati Jayanti | Restricted Holiday |
| 2020 | Tue | 18 February | Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati Jayanti | Restricted Holiday |
| 2021 | Mon | 8 March | Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati Jayanti | Restricted Holiday |
| 2022 | Sat | 26 February | Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati Jayanti | Restricted Holiday |
| 2023 | Wed | 15 February | Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati Jayanti | Restricted Holiday |
| 2024 | Tue | 5 March | Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati Jayanti | Restricted Holiday |
| 2025 | Sun | 23 February | Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati Jayanti | Restricted Holiday |
FAQs
1. Is Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati Jayanti a bank holiday in India?
Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati Jayanti is not a bank holiday. However, it can be observed as an optional holiday in several parts of the country.
2. What is the real name of Dayanand Saraswati?
Dayanand Saraswati was born as Mool Shankar in an affluent Brahmin family.
3. What social ideas did Dayanand Saraswati support?
Equality for women, introduction to western education and greater freedom.
4. Who assassinated Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati?
Jaswant Singh II, the Maharaja of Jodhpur, was behind the assasination of Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati.
From the above information, it is evident that the festival of Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati Jayanti 2024 in India is observed on Tuesday, 5 March with great enthusiasm.
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