Guru Ravidass Jayanti & Gurpurab
The birth anniversary, also known as the Gurpurab of Shri Guru Ravidass Ji Maharaj, is the most sacred holiday for devotees worldwide, celebrating the light of a spiritual revolutionary.
Magh Purnima
Celebrated on the full moon of the month of Magh. On the Gregorian calendar, it typically falls in February.
Spiritual Hub
Major festivities center around the Seer Goverdhanpur in Varanasi, the birth place of Guru Ravidass.
Who is Guru Ravidas Ji?
To understand the significance of this day, one must ask: Who is Guru Ravidas?. He was a 15th-century mystic, poet, and social reformer whose hymns are enshrined in the holy scriptures. His life was a testament to human equality, challenging the social hierarchies of his time.
The Gurpurab of Shri Guru Ravidass Maharaj Ji is more than a holiday; it is a global movement. From the historic Dera Ballan to local Ravidassia Temples in the UK, USA, and Europe, the message of Begampura (the city without sorrow) is recited with great fervor.
"During the Bhakti Movement, Guru Ravidas Jayanti became a symbol of spiritual defiance and pure devotion, influencing the core of Ravidassia religion and ideologies."
Rituals and Global Celebrations
Devotees across the globe participate in Nag Kirtans, which are grand processions where the portrait of Guru Ji is carried through the streets with singing and chanting. This is often accompanied by the changing of the Harr (religious flag) and the recitation of the Amritbani, the holy book.
Main Traditions
Recitation of Aarti
Special singing of the sacred hymns, often using different language versions like the English or Punjabi Aarti.
Holy Bathing
Many devotees travel to the Ganges River in Varanasi for a spiritual dip on Magh Purnima.
Community Langar
Free community kitchens are set up at Gurudwaras to serve food to all, regardless of caste or creed.
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