Mon Oct 14 03:03:31 UTC 2024: ## Andhra Pradesh Declares Valmiki Jayanti as State Festival
**Amaravati, [Date]:** The Andhra Pradesh government has officially declared Valmiki Jayanti as a state festival, honoring the revered sage and author of the epic Ramayana. This announcement comes following a promise made by Minister Nara Lokesh during the recent ‘Yuva Galam’ padyatra.
The state government will be celebrating Valmiki Jayanti on the 17th of this month across all districts. The state-level celebrations will be held in Anantapur.
Minister Nara Lokesh, while recalling the padyatra, stated that members of the Boya and Valmiki communities had requested the government to recognize Valmiki Jayanti as a state festival. He emphasized that the government is committed to upholding the self-respect of Backward Classes (BC) communities.
The government’s decision to declare Valmiki Jayanti as a state festival is being lauded as a step towards recognizing and honoring the contributions of the sage and his community.
First Piper 