Guru Ravidas’s Jayanti is celebrated as the birthday of Guru Ravidas. It is celebrated on the full moon day of the month of Magh according to the Hindu calendar and will fall on 24th February 2024. It is the most important day for the followers of the Ravidassia religion and is celebrated by reading Amritbani Guru Ravidas Ji, changing the Nishaan Sahib and carrying out Nagar Kirtans.
Guru Ravidas Jayanti History and Significance
Guru Ravidas Jayanti 2024| Guru Ravidas Jayanti History and Significance
Guru Ravidas was born in the 14th century, to a low caste family, in Seer Goverdhanpur, UP. He was among the first people to fight for basic human rights and tried to spread the message of equality by opposing the Indian caste system. He taught spirituality and contributed 41 devotional poems and songs to Guru Granth Sahib. It is believed that his teachings were studied by Sikh Gurus as well.
Guru Ravidas’ teachings formed the basis of the Ravidassia religion, which now has followers all over the world. The Guru Ravidas Jayanti date in 2024 is 24th February.
Philosophy or Social Contribution of Ravidas
Guru Ravidas belonged to a Dalit family whose primary trade was tanning leather. He went on to acquire the trade of cobbler but used to dress like Brahmins, mocking the caste system which was highly prevalent at that time. He used to display Brahmin symbols and get dressed in Brahmin robes. He promoted the principles of dignity and equality for all, regardless of their ethnicity. He emphasised that a person is not known by his caste, belief in God or religion but rather by his deeds or great actions (karma). These principles are valid to date. He also strongly opposed untouchability which made the lives of lower caste people difficult.
His message to society was clear – “God created man and not man created God” which means that every person is created by God, giving him equal rights on Earth. Keeping this in mind, Sant Guru Ravidas Ji has always taught about tolerance and universal brotherhood.
Guru Ravidas gained a loyal following among the Dalits, owing to his strong beliefs, emphasis on equality and egalitarian social philosophy. He had many followers among the members of the upper caste including Meera Bai, the Queen and King of Chittor and several other princes and kings of that era.
Guru Ravidas’s Jayanti Celebrations Across India
Celebrations of Guru Ravidas’s Jayanti remain similar throughout the nation. Large processions bearing Guru’s portraits are carried out on streets, Sikh scriptures are recited in temples dedicated to the Guru and devotees take a dip in the holy rivers to perform rites.
The grandest celebration of Guru Ravidas Jayanti, however, takes place at Shri Guru Ravidass Janam Asthan Mandir, Seer Goverdhanpur, which sees lakhs of followers coming from all over the world and celebrating the occasion.
Best Place to Observe the Celebrations of Guru Ravidas’s Jayanti
- Seer Goverdhanpur, Varanasi
Guru Ravidas Jayanti Wishes
People fondly wish each other on the occasion of Sant Guru Ravidas Jayanti. Some of the most common wishes are:
- “May this Guru Ravidas Jayanti be the source of happiness and inspiration for you. Happy Guru Ravidas Jayanti 2024.”
- “Guru Ravidas was a great spiritual leader who believed in equality. Let us respect his teachings and be good human beings. Happy Guru Ravidas Jayanti.”
- “Perform special prayers and take a holy bath on the occasion of Guru Ravidas Ji’s birthday. Happy Guru Das Jayanti 2024.”
- “On this day, let’s take good lessons from the teachings of Guru Ravidas and make this world a better place to live for everyone. Happy Guru Ravidas Jayanti 2024.”
- “Guru Ravidas didn’t believe in casteism. Let us eradicate the caste differences among our societies and treat everyone with love and respect. Happy Guru Ravidas Jayanti 2024.”
- “You show us the light of wisdom and drive away the darkness of foolishness. Happy Guru Ravidas Jayanti 2024.”
Check out When is Deepawali
Other Festivals in India with Holiday Type
| Festivals in India | Day | Date | Holiday Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Year’s Day | Mon | 01-Jan | Restricted Holiday |
| Lohri | Sat | 13-Jan | Restricted Holiday |
| Makar Sankranti | Sun | 14-Jan | Restricted Holiday |
| Pongal | Mon | 15-Jan | Restricted Holiday |
| Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti | Wed | 17-Jan | Restricted Holiday |
| Republic Day | Fri | 26-Jan | Gazetted Holiday |
| Losar | Sat | 10-Feb | Restricted Holiday |
| Basant Panchmi | Wed | 14-Feb | Restricted Holiday |
| Guru Ravidas Jayanti | Sat | 24-Feb | Gazetted Holiday |
| Maharshi Dayanand Saraswati Jayanti | Wed | 6-Mar | Restricted Holiday |
| Mahashivratri | Fri | 8-Mar | Gazetted Holiday |
| Holi | Mon | 25-March | Gazetted Holiday |
| Good Friday | Fri | 29-Mar | Gazetted Holiday |
| Easter Day | Sun | 31-Mar | Restricted Holiday |
| Gudi Padwa | Tue | 9-Apr | Restricted Holiday |
| Eid-ul-Fitr | Wed | 10-Apr | Gazetted Holiday |
| Vaisakhi (Vishu) | Sat | 13-Apr | Restricted Holiday |
| Rama Navami | Wed | 17-Apr | Gazetted Holiday |
| Mahavir Jayanti | Sun | 21-Apr | Gazetted Holiday |
| Rabindra Jayanti | Wed | 8-May | Restricted Holiday |
| Buddha Purnima (Vesak) | Thu | 23-May | Gazetted Holiday |
| Id-ul-Zuha (Bakrid) | Mon | 17-Jun | Restricted Holiday |
| Rath Yatra | Sun | 7-Jul | Gazetted Holiday |
| Muharram (Ashura) | Wed | 17-Jul | Gazetted Holiday |
| Independence Day | Thu | 15-Aug | Gazetted Holiday |
| Parsi New Year’s Day (Nauraz) | Thu | 15-Aug | Public Holiday |
| Raksha Bandhan (Rakhi) | Mon | 19-Aug | Restricted Holiday |
| Janmashtami | Mon | 26-Aug | Restricted Holiday |
| Ganesh Chaturthi | Sat | 7-Sep | Restricted Holiday |
| Onam | Sun | 15-Sep | Restricted Holiday |
| Milad-un-Nabi or Id-e- Milad | Mon | 16-Sep | Gazetted Holiday |
| Gandhi Jayanti | Wed | 02-Oct | Gazetted Holiday |
| Dussehra | Sat | 12-Oct | Gazetted Holiday |
| Valmiki Jayanti | Thu | 17-Oct | Restricted Holiday |
| Karva Chauth | Sun | 20-Oct | Gazetted Holiday |
| Dhanteras | Tue | 29-Oct | Restricted Holiday |
| Kali Puja | Thu | 31-Oct | Gazetted Holiday |
| Halloween Day | Thu | 31-Oct | No Holiday |
| Diwali | Fri | 1-Nov | Gazetted Holiday |
| Lakshmi Puja | Fri | 1-Nov | Gazetted Holiday |
| Karnataka Rajyotsava | Fri | 1-Nov | Gazetted Holiday |
| Kerala Piravi | Fri | 1-Nov | Gazetted Holiday |
| Govardhan Puja | Sat | 2-Nov | Gazetted Holiday |
| Bhai Dooj | Sun | 3-Nov | Gazetted Holiday |
| Chhath Puja | Thu | 7-Nov | Gazetted Holiday |
| Guru Nanak Jayanti | Fri | 15-Nov | Gazetted Holiday |
| Christmas | Wed | 25-Dec | Public Holiday |
FAQs
Q. Why is Guru Ravidas Jayanti celebrated?
A. Guru Ravidas Jayanti 2024 or Magh Purnima is celebrated to mark the birthday of Sant Ravidas, a poet and saint.
Q. Which religion celebrates Guru Ravidas Jayanti or Magh Purnima?
A. Sikhs belonging to the Ravidassia sect celebrate Ravidas Jayanti on the full moon day of the Magh month.
Q. Did Ravidas meet Guru Nanak?
A. It is commonly believed by most scholars, that Ravidas met Guru Nanak in his lifetime.
Q. What is Ravidas famous for?
A. Ravidas, an Indian mystic saint and poet is famously known for being a participant of the North Indian bhakti movement. He also strongly fought against untouchability and the social divisions of gender and cast.
Q. What is the symbol of Ravidassia?
A. Harr Nishaan is the official symbol of the Ravidassia religion. The symbol has a smaller inner circle encapsulated by a bigger circle with 40 rays of sunlight.
Q. What is Guru Ravidas date of birth and death?
A. Guru Ravidas’ exact life details are not known. However, many scholars believe that he was born in 1377 CE and died in 1528 CE. He was 151 years old when he passed away in Banaras.
