Maharishi Valmiki Jayanti 2024 in India

Is Maharishi Valmiki Jayanti a Public Holiday?

Maharishi Valmiki Jayanti is not a public holiday but an optional one in India. Hence, employers treat this day as an optional holiday and maintain a full-time working schedule on this day. Schools, universities, academic institutions, colleges and other organizations remain fully functional on this day. Most businesses remain operational, but employees have the flexibility to take a half or full-day off as per their beliefs and traditions.

Transportation services also run according to their daily routine, and there is no such congestion on the roads on this day. Also, shopping malls and retail shops remain open as well.

Maharishi Valmiki Jayanti History

Maharishi Valmiki Jayanti history holds high significance religiously and marks its observance. Sage Valmiki, popularly as Maharishi Valmiki or Adi Kavi, is known to be the renowned author of the epic Ramayana. The day of his birth is observed as Valmiki Jayanti and celebrated with great respect and honour. Before being a sage, he was a dacoit but repented for his sins for years and years later, attaining the name Valmiki. The story behind how he got his name is quite interesting.

It is said that while he was meditating, his body became so still that hills of ants formed around him. After his meditation, he emerged from the anthills and got his name Valmiki. He is highly revered by followers of the Balmiki or Valmiki sect as a Godly avatar. In traditional Indian poetry, the “epic metre” is highly accredited to Maharishi Valmiki, since he was the one who started writing verses with rhyming couplets, suggesting that the verses were meant for public recitals.

Valmiki Jayanti in Mythology

The occasion of Valmiki Jayanti commemorates the birth of the great sage and poet Maharishi Valmiki, popularly known as Adi Kavi. he was the one behind the creation of the significant religious epic Ramayana, which glorified the birth and deeds of Lord Ram, one of the divine avatars of Lord Vishnu, and his victory over Ravana, the Demon-King.

Maharishi Valmiki is himself considered an incarnation of the God and revered by his followers with an open heart. He is usually depicted as the one wearing saffron-coloured clothes and holding a quill and paper in his hands. As per mythological legends, he was born as Ratnakar and became to be known as a ferocious dacoit. He would loot people going from one village to the other and was known for his raging acts. However, once Narad Muni showed him the path of penance and atonement. After going down the right path and performing the penance for innumerable days, his actions bore sweet fruits.

From that day, he became known as Valmiki. In the epic Ramayan itself, the presence of Maharishi Valmiki has been mentioned. It was after Maa Sita was banished by Lord Rama over a misunderstanding when Maharishi took her in and looked after her well-being. He also nurtured Luv and Kush, Maa Sita and Lord Rama’s children and helped them understand the nature of life.

Maharishi Valmiki Jayanti Celebrations

On Valmiki Jayanti, also as Pargat Diwas, people carry out public processions and sing bhajans and other devotional songs to mark this event. Below we are mentioning ways this day is observed and celebrated among the followers of the Valmiki sect:

• On the auspicious day of Maharishi Valmiki Jayanti, his followers carry out this portrait in a procession called Shobha Yatra. The portrait depicts Maharishi Valmiki as a monk sitting with his quill, wearing saffron-coloured clothes and writing on a piece of paper.


• Devotional songs signifying the glory of Maharishi Valmiki are sung by his followers while carrying out the processions.


• On the occasion of Maharishi Valmiki Jayanti, his devotees wake up early, take a holy bath and rever him by chanting prayers and worshipping his idol or picture.


• Verses from the Ramayana are recited by the priests in temples on the occasion of Valmiki Jayanti. Temples are decorated with flowers, lights and diyas, and the glory of the Maharishi is sung with happy hearts.


• Food, necessities and much more are distributed among the poor and the needy on this day. Charity and donations are made to those in need. Performing such selfless deeds helps to gain the blessings of the Maharishi Valmiki.

Maharishi Valmiki Jayanti: Famous Quotes By Maharishi Valmiki

• “If a person is gifting away his elephant but his heart is set on the rope used for tying the elephant, of what use is his attachment to the rope when he is giving away the elephant itself.”
• “Without danger knocking on the door of one’s benefactor, where arises the chance to reciprocate?”
• “There is no deity powerful than time.”
• “Overdoing anything leads to sorrow.”
• “Show no disrespect even when impelled by desire or anger.”

মহর্ষি বাল্মীকি জয়ন্তী Observances

FAQs

From the above information, it is evident that the event of Maharishi Valmiki Jayanti 2024 in India is observed on বৃহস্পতিবার, 17 অক্টোবর with great enthusiasm.

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