Sri Sri Sri Maharshi Valmiki Jayanti celebrated in City in Religious & Traditional Fervor
Kujatham Rama Ramethi Madhuram Madhuraksharam, Arohya Kavithashakam Vande Valmiki Kokilayam! Sri Sri Sri Maharshi Valmiki Jayanti celebrated in City in Religious & Traditional Fervor
Mangaluru: Valmiki Jayanti is a yearly Indian celebration celebrated specifically by the Valmiki religious gathering, to remember the introduction of the old Indian artist and savant Valmiki, who is thought to have lived around 500 BC. The celebration date is dictated by the Indian lunar schedule, and falls on the full moon Purnima of the long stretch of Ashwin, regularly in late September or early October.
Valmiki is loved in India as the creator of the Indian epic sonnet Ramayana and is likewise adored as the Avatar of God in the Valmiki confidence. Valmiki himself shows up as a noteworthy character in the Ramayana, as a priest who gets the exiled ruler Sita into his seclusion and goes about as instructor to her twin children, Luv and Kush. The “epic meter” in conventional Indian verse is credited to Valmiki, with verses comprising of important rhyming couplets, recommending that the lyric was expected for open recitation, a typical Indian oral tradition.
On Pargat Diwas representations of Valmiki, commonly portrayed as a priest wearing saffron-hued robes and holding a plume and paper, are paraded in parades called Shobha Yatra through the primary roads of the Valmiki territory, joined by road reverential singing. Maharishi Valmiki is a loved artist and composed the epic Ramayana in 24,000 shlokas and 7 cantos kandas. Amid the time of Lord Rama’s outcast, he met Maharishi Valmiki and later on the colossal sage gave a safe house to Rama’s better half Sita when she was exiled from the kingdom of Ayodhya by Lord Rama. Sita even brought forth her twin children Lava and Kusha at Rishi Valmiki’s ashram and he turned into their instructor and showed them Ramayana.
Maharshi Valmiki Jayanti was celebrated at Kudmul Ranga Rao Purabhavana aka Town Hall on October 24, on behalf of the DK District Administration, SC/ST Welfare Department, Kannada and Culture Department, Zilla Panchayat and DK District Valmiki Nayaka Association. The dignitaries for the occasion were district-in-charge minister U T Khader, MLC Ivan D’souza. DC Sasikanth Senthil, Police Commissioner T R Suresh, President of Dakshina Kannada Zilla Panchayat Meenakshi Shantigodu, MLA Vedvyas Kamath, among many others.
Inaugurating the programme, Minister U T Khader said “Maharshi Valmiki by authoring the great work called Ramayana has conveyed the message that each one in this world should be an ideal human being. Valmiki Jayanti celebrations will be meaningful only when we understand the works of Valmiki and incorporate his ideals in life. Valmiki’s works should be an eye-opener to the society at all times. The Valmiki Ramayana explains how a country should be administered, Ramayana, authored by contemporary sage Maharshi Valmiki has elaborate chapters on governing a nation”.
“Ramayana, the epic authored by Valmiki, has molded the sensibilities of Indians for centuries. India is the only country which has a lot of culture and history. In society, some people knowingly or unknowingly put their hands into bad work. We have to think before we do something. If every community gets developed, then the whole nation will be developed. Even we have to become like Valmiki. We should not consider anyone as a lower level person. All are equal. When there is a chance for you to shine, you should never let go of that chance”, added Khader.
Also speaking on the occasion MLC Ivan D’souza said, “The Valmiki community is becoming socially and economically stable in the society. If you want a sustainable society then you must strive for its development. If a person is weak or he is not able to move forward in his life, others should encourage him to not to give up and should show him the way to success. People should help others and in return, something better will come. There are people who are deprived of basic material and cultural benefits in the society. Everyone should get the basic benefits and not only the Government, but the society also should look after it.
MLA Vedvyas Kamath addressing the audience said, “We talk lot about Ramayana but we never say anything about the writer Valmiki. No one should recognize any person by his caste or religion, all are equal in society. This is a very meaningful day as Government itself has come forward to celebrate Valmiki Jayanti, and that a holiday is declared. Valmiki and Ramayana are both one and the same as Ram and Sita both lived in front of the eyes of Valmiki. Ramayana should not be considered or pointed out as a single religious story. Ramayana gives a lesson on values like sacrifice, compassion and humanism to the society which inspires everyone to render service to the deprived sections. As a person, ‘Ram’ personifies the characteristics of an ideal person (Purushottama). He is a role model for everyone.”
Ten ST students who had scored the highest marks in their exams were felicitated on the occasion. The formal function followed by a cultural programme comprising of songs and various forms of traditional dances. Ms Smitha Shenoy- lecturer at Besant Womens’ College, Mangaluru compered the ceremony and D K Valmiki Nayaka Association president K Haleshappa delivered the vote of thanks.
