Valmiki Jayanti: PM Modi extends his greetings to the nation

On the occasion of Maharishi Valmiki Jayanti, Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended greetings to the nation on October 13. PM Modi took to Twitter to pay homage to Valmiki. In his tweet, PM Modi mentioned that Valmiki's message on social justice will always continue to inspire us.

"Many congratulations on Valmiki Jayanti. The great ideas of Maharishi Valmiki are the seed element of our historical journey, on which our tradition and culture have flourished. His messages, which are the pillars of social justice, will always inspire us all," he said.

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Apart from PM Modi, other political leaders also paid their tributes to Maharishi Valmiki. Union Minister Prakash Javadekar and  Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Yogi Adityanath also took to micro-blogging site to express their gratitude.

Yogi Adityanath in his tweet paid tribute to Valmiki for composing Ramayana and conveying Lord Ram's message, ideals, sacrifices and adherence to dignity and duty.

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Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad and Defense Minister Rajnath Singh also paid their tributes. Rajnath Singh said, "Best wishes to all of you on Valmiki Jayanti. The life of Maharishi Valmiki, known throughout the world as a primaeval poet, is inspiring for all of us. He gave a new direction to India's cultural tradition and gave a message of solidarity and mutual harmony among all sections of society."

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About Maharishi Valmiki

Valmiki is revered in India as the author of the Indian epic poem Ramayana and is also worshipped as the avatar of God by members of the Balmiki sect. Valmiki himself appears as a major character in the Ramayana, as a monk who receives the banished queen Sita into his hermitage and acts as a teacher to her twin sons, Luv and Kush. The "epic meter" in traditional Indian poetry is attributed to Valmiki, with verses consisting of memorable rhyming couplets, suggesting that the poem was intended for public recitation, a common Indian oral tradition.

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About Valmiki Jayanti

Valmiki Jayanti or Pargat Diwas, is an annual Indian festival celebrated in particular by the Valmiki religious group, to commemorate the birth of the ancient Indian poet and philosopher Valmiki, who is thought to have lived around 500 BCE. The festival date is determined by the Indian lunar calendar, and falls on the full moon (Purnima) of the month of Ashwin, typically in late September or early October. On Pargat Diwas, portraits of Valmiki, typically depicted as a monk wearing saffron-coloured robes and holding a quill and paper, are paraded in processions called Shobha Yatra through the main streets of the Balmiki sect's locality, accompanied by street devotional singing.

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