When is Maharishi Valmiki Birthday?
Valmiki Jayanti is celebrated on Ashwin Purnima, the full moon in the sixth Hindu month.
This regional public holiday in several Indian states, commemorates the birth anniversary of Valmiki, the first poet of Sanskrit literature.
What does Maharishi Valmiki Birthday celebrate?
Valmiki is celebrated as the harbinger-poet in Sanskrit literature and the author of Ramayana, the first epic poem.
At nearly 24,000 verses, the Ramayana is one of the largest ancient epics in world literature. The poem revolves around the life of Rama, a major Hindu deity and the legendary prince of the Kosala Kingdom.
It follows Rama's banishment from the kingdom by his father, King Dasharatha. It then narrates his travels across India with his wife Sita and brother Lakshmana, the kidnapping of Sita by Ravana, the demon king of Lanka, Rama's battles with Ravana and his eventual return home to be crowned king.
The British Library considers Ramayana as one of the most important literary works of ancient India, that has greatly influenced art and culture in the Indian subcontinent and South-East Asia.
The story of Rama has been retold over the centuries by some of India's greatest writers both in Sanskrit and regional languages. In northern India, the annual 'Rama-play' is performed at the festival of Dussehra which celebrates Rama's victory over Ravana and the rescue of Sita, signifying the eventual triumph of light over darkness.
In parts of India, the return of Rama and Sita is also the basis for the festival of Diwali when thousands of lamps are lit to guide them home.
A popular television series, "Ramayan", was aired in India 1987-1988. It attracted over 100 million viewers to become 'the world's most viewed mythological serial' at the time.
Valmiki lived in the first millennium BCE and is believed to be the contemporary of Lord Rama.
