Sant Ravidas Jayanti is celebrated in the northern and central states of India to commemorate the birth anniversary of a famous Hindu poet and religious Guru of 16th century, Sant Ravidas. He was born in a village called Seer Govardhanpur near Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh.
Long and Short Paragraphs on Sant Ravidas Jayanti
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Sant Ravidas Jayanti is the birthday of Sant Ravidas, who was a 16th century BC religious guru and a poet. The teachings and works of Sant Ravidas have inspired millions of followers in the northern and central parts of India. His works have also inspired the formation of a separate religion called the ‘Ravidassia religion’.
People of Ravidassia religion celebrate Ravidas Jayanti with complete reverence and religious devotion. They observe fast, sing and chant the writings of Guru Ravidas and venerate him in temples and other places. An important part of the celebration is the procession called ‘Nagar Kirtan’ which is carried out on streets at various places, by the devotees.
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‘Sant Ravidas Jayanti’ also called ‘Guru Ravidas Jayanti’ or simply ‘Ravidas Jayanti’ is an annual festival commemorating the birthday of Sant Ravidas. Sant Ravidas was a 16th-century poet and spiritual teacher, revered in northern and central India. People of Ravidassia religion devotedly observe Sant Ravidas Jayanti. The Ravidassia religion came out of Sikhism and is inspired by the teachings of Sant Ravidas.
Chanting of poems and verses written by Guru Ravidas is a common ritual on his Jayanti. Devotees perform aarti and take out street processions in the honor of Sant Ravidas. They chant the works of Sant Ravidas and his teachings. Some also perform veneration in temples and consider it auspicious to take bath in a holy river on Sant Ravidas Jayanti.
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Sant Ravidas Jayanti is reverently celebrated throughout India. It is not a mandatory holiday and most of the offices and institutions remain open; though, some people might opt for an optional holiday on Sant Ravidas Jayanti. It is observed on a full moon day in the Hindu calendar month of ‘Magha’, which corresponds to the Gregorian calendar month of ‘February’.
Sant Ravidas was venerated as a Guru, that is, ‘teacher’ in 15th and 16th century CE, in the regions of Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, and Uttar Pradesh. The songs and teachings of Guru Ravidas hugely inspired the Bhakti Movement and also inspired the formation of the Ravidassia religion.
Many devotional songs written by Sant Ravidas are included in Guru Granth Sahib, the holiest sect of Sikh religion. Guru Ravidas preached against the system of caste division in society and taught people about unity and harmony through spiritual awakening.
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Guru Ravidas Jayanti is fervently observed to commemorate the birth anniversary of Sant Ravidas a mystic poet and Hindu religious preacher. His teachings have inspired the formation of the Ravidassia religion in the 20th century. On Ravidas Jayanti, people of Ravidassia sect, read their religious holy book – ‘Amritbani Guru Ravidas Ji’.
Temples with the statue of Guru Ravidas are decorated with lights and flowers. Devotees perform aarti and chant writings of Sant Ravidas. Nagar Kirtan processions are taken out by the devotees in large numbers. It is customary for the devotees to take a dip in a holy river on Sant Ravidas Jayanti.
A huge celebration like a fair is held at the birth place of Guru Ravidas at Seer Govardhanpur in Uttar Pradesh. Millions of devotees from all over the country visit Sant Ravidas Janmsthan temple at Seer Govardhanpur. People remember the teachings and works of Sant Ravidas.
The day is observed on a full moon day in the Magha month as per the Hindu calendar, which usually corresponds with the February month as per the Gregorian calendar. Though Sant Ravidas Jayanti is widely celebrated throughout India, it holds larger significance for the people of the Ravidassia religion.
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Sant Ravidas Jayanti is celebrated as the birthday of Sant Ravidas. It is celebrated on a full moon day in the Hindu calendar month of Magha. The year 2020 marked the 643rd birth anniversary of Sant Ravidas. Guru Ravidas was a mystic poet born in an underprivileged family in Seer Govardhanpur village in Uttar Pradesh. He spread brotherhood and harmony through his poems and literary works.
Some verses created by Sant Ravidas are also included in Guru Granth Sahib, the holy scripture of Sikhs. For this reason, Sant Ravidas is revered by Sikhs and his birthday is religiously observed. Sant Ravidas Jayanti is of larger significance for the people of the Ravidassia religion. Inspired by the teachings of Sant Ravidas, the Ravidasi sect came out of Sikhism in the 20th century.
Some special rituals are performed by the people celebrating Sant Ravidas Jayanti. On this day ‘Amritbani Guru Ravidas Ji’ is read, which the holy book of Ravidassia religion is. Devotees also ceremonially exchange the ‘Hari Nishan’ which is a religious symbol for the Ravidassia sect. Special aarti is performed and processions called ‘Nagar Kirtan’ are carried out.
In Nagar Kirtan, devotees chant the poems/verses written by Sant Ravidas. A grand celebration is held at Seer Govardhanpur, the birthplace of Sant Ravidas, near Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh. There is a temple known as the ‘Shri Guru Ravidas Janmsthan Mandir’, which is visited by millions of devotees on Sant Ravidas Jayanti. In 2020 Sant Ravidas Jayanti will be celebrated on Sunday, 9th February.
FAQs: Frequently Asked Questions
Ans. Sant Ravidas was born in the year 1450.
Ans. Sant Ravidas was a hindu poet.
Ans. Sant Ravidas was born in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh.
Ans. Sant Ravidas set up Ravidassia religion.