Guru Ravidas’ Jayanti will be commemorated on Saturday, February 27, to honour the birthday of Guru Ravidas. This year will mark the 644th birth anniversary of Guru Ravidas. Interestingly, the day will be celebrated on Magh Purnima, the full moon day in the month of Magh month.
Bhagat Ravidas or Guru Ravidas was a renowned saint and is known for his contribution to the Bhakti movement. The Jayanti is celebrated with extreme amiability by the followers of the Ravidassia religion specificallly in North India including Chandigarh, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana and Punjab.
Great Saint, Poet, and Guru Ravidas born in the 14th century, to an impoverished family in Seer Goverdhanpur, Uttar Pradesh. Guru Ravidas 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 through his poems and teachings based on spirituality.
He is well-known as a good friend and disciple of Kabir and has contributed 41 devotional poems and songs in ‘Guru Granth Sahib’. Considered as the founder of the Ravidassia religion, Guru Ravidas was also known as the spiritual guide of Meera Bai, who is an eminent personality in the sphere of Hindu spiritualism.
When is Guru Ravidas Jayanti celebrated?
This year Ravidas Jayanti falls on Saturday, 27th February, 2021. It is celebrated on the magha purnima on the ful moon day of the magha month, somehow the day has its astronomical value, as some people will perform a Satyanarayan pooja on the other hand some will worship and commemorate the day as a Guru Ravidas Jayanti.
How Guru Ravidas Jayanti is celebrated?
Ravidas is known to be a guru, and Indian culture does constitute the practise of praising guru. So, as a part of the customary practice, devotees take a dip in the holy river. Prayers are also offered in the temples dedicated to Guru Ravidas especially in the bhawans.
However, the grandest celebration takes place at Shri Guru Ravidass Janam Asthan Mandir. Followers visit the place from all over the world and celebrate this glorious occasion.
The prime feature of the festival is the Nagar Kirtan. People dress up as Guru Ravidas and his supporters to mark the celebrations.
