Valmiki Jayanti 2023 (Pargat Diwas): Birth Anniversary of Maharishi Valmiki, the author of holy Ramayana

Valmiki Jayanti celebrates the birth anniversary of Maharishi Valmiki who was a great poet and author and is entitled with the writing of Ramayana.

Sage Valmiki also holds the title of Adi Kavi or the first poet and Ramayana to be the first epic poem.

In many parts of India, Valmiki Jayanti is also known and celebrated by the name of Pargat Diwas. Valmiki Jayanti is normally observed in the month of September or October every year and is celebrated with great spirit by his devotees.

Valmiki Jayanti 2023 Overview

Event	Valmiki Jayanti
Also known as	Pargat Diwas
Date	October 28, 2023
Day	Saturday

Is Valmiki Jayanti celebrated on Purnima?

Date of Valmiki Jayanti is calculated in accordance with the Hindu lunar calendar. Maharishi Valmiki was born on Purnima (full moon day) of the Ashwin month somewhere around 500 BC. This date falls in the month of September or October in the Gregorian calendar. Calculated according to the Hindu calendar, Valmiki Jayanti 2023 is being observed on Sunday, October 28.

Valmiki Jayanti is observed as a public holiday in the Indian states of Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana and Karnataka and all public offices, banks, schools, etc remain close on this occasion.

Year	Day and Date
Valmiki Jayanti 2023 Date	Saturday, October 28, 2023
Valmiki Jayanti 2024 Date	Thursday, October 17, 2024
Valmiki Jayanti 2025 Date	Tuesday, October 7, 2025
Valmiki Jayanti 2026 Date	Monday, October 26, 2026

Life History of Maharishi Valmiki

Valmiki was born as Ratnakar to Pracheta, a Brahmin of Bhrigu gotra, somewhere around 500 BC. It is believed that Valmiki was a robber before becoming a great sage who robbed people that he found in the forest. Upon his interaction with the Saptrishis, he had a change of heart and turned into a great sage and eventually became the author of great epic Ramayana.

According to one legend, Valmiki was born in a Brahmin family who lived with his family in the ancient Indian region of Anarta (presently somewhere in Gujarat). Once came a time when rain stopped pouring in Anarta and the condition prevailed for twelve long years. To fee his hungry family, Valmiki turned to a robber. During his life as a robber, he met and tried to rob the Saptrishi who felt pity for him. Those sages made Valmiki realize of the sins he commits by robbing people and gave him the Rama mantra to recite as a penance.

Moved by the words of those sages, Valmiki left his evil doings and indulged himself in the mantra. It is said that he became so engrossed and spent so much time in the recitation that anthills came up around his body. When the sages returned they watched Valmiki packed in the anthill, still reciting the name of Rama. They blessed Valmiki and gave him the name Valmiki as he performed penance while wrapped up in an anthill, known as Valmika in Sanskrit.

It is believed that Maharishi Valmiki reincarnated as Tulsidas, and composed the Ramcharitamanas. Ramcharitamanas is the Awadhi-Hindi version of Ramayana, the original Sanskrit work of Valmiki.

Valmiki and Ramayana

Valmiki was not just the author of Ramayana but he also played an important role in the story as written in Uttar Kanda, the last chapter of Ramayana.

When Rama left Sita after hearing the words of a washer man in Ayodhya, she found refuge in sage Valmiki’s ashram.

Twin sons of Rama and Sita, Luv and Kush, were also born in the ashram of Valmiki. They became the first disciples of Valmiki whom he taught the Ramayana.

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Valmiki Jayanti Celebration

Sage Valmiki is worshiped as an incarnation of god by the members of Balmiki sect. Valmiki Jayanti holds special significance among the people of Balmiki religious group and they celebrate this day with high spirit.

On the occasion of his birth anniversary, temples dedicated to him are decorated and devotees in large number visits the temple and offer him prayers.

There is a famous temple in Tiruvanmiyur region of Chennai dedicated to Valmiki which is believed to be 1300 years old. Devotees from all around the country visit this temple on the occasion of Valmiki Jayanti.

Processions of portraits and idols of Valmiki dressed in the form of a monk are carried out on the day of Valmiki Jayanti. This parade is called as Shobha Yatra and is generally carried out by people of Balmiki sect.

On the day of Valmiki Jayanti, people also perform charity work and offer food and donations to the poor and hungry.