Thu Oct 17 00:42:41 UTC 2024: ## Maharishi Valmiki Jayanti Celebrated Across India on October 17th
**New Delhi, October 16th:** India today celebrates Maharishi Valmiki Jayanti, marking the birth anniversary of the revered sage and author of the epic Ramayana. Observed on the full moon day of the Ashwin month (October), the occasion is also known as Pargat Diwas, a tribute to Valmiki’s teachings.
While the exact date and time of Valmiki’s birth remains unknown, tradition holds that he was born under the full moon’s glow, leading to the assumption that he was born on the Purnima. This year, the Sharad Purnima tithi began at 8:40 pm on October 16th and will end at 4:55 pm on October 17th.
Valmiki, hailed as the “Adi Kavi” (first poet) of the Sanskrit language, is best known for writing the Ramayana, a monumental work comprising 24,000 verses divided into seven cantos. Members of the Valmiki sect consider him a divine messenger and celebrate Pargat Diwas with great devotion.
The festival is being observed across India with several states declaring it a dry day, closing liquor stores, and observing a bank holiday. Celebrations include vibrant Shobha Yatras (processions) featuring Valmiki’s idol, accompanied by devotional songs and shlokas. Many devotees recite the Ramayana in his honor. Temples dedicated to the sage are adorned with flowers and lights, and prayers are offered, alongside the distribution of free food.
Maharishi Valmiki Jayanti holds deep spiritual significance for followers across India, commemorating the birth of a revered figure who contributed immensely to the cultural and spiritual landscape of the nation.
First Piper 