Delhi: Public holiday on Ravidas Jayanti tomorrow, says Arvind Kejriwal

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announced a public holiday on the ocassion of Ravidas Jayanti.

There will be a public holiday in Delhi on the ocassion of Ravindas Jayanti tomorrow (February 16), Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said today. "Delhi government has announced a public holiday on the ocassion of Ravidas Jayanti (Februrary 16)," Arvind Kejriwal posted on his official twitter handle. 

Who was saint Ravidas?

February 16 is celebrated as the birth anniversary of Saint Ravidas, a 15th to 16th century CE Guru who worked for the eradication of caste system and rights of the untouchable. He is the founder of Ravidassia sect among Sikhs. Saint Ravidas has a sizeable population of followers in the poll bound state of Punjab.

सन्त श्री गुरु रविदास जी महाराज जी की जयंती के अवसर पर दिल्ली सरकार ने बुधवार 16 फ़रवरी को सरकारी छुट्टी का एलान किया है। महाराज जी के चरणों में मेरा कोटि कोटि नमन।

— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) February 15, 2022

Ravidas Jayanti and Punjab Polls

The Punjab polls, earlier scheduled for February 14, were re-scheduled for February 20, keeping in mind the celebrations of Ravidas Jayanti. All the top parties - Congress, AAP, SAD and BSP - had written to Election Commission requesting postponing of election over Ravidas Jayanti.

Ravidas Jayanti - president extends wishes to people

President Ram Nath Kovind on Tuesday greeted fellow citizens on the birth anniversary of Guru Ravidas.

"I extend warm greetings and best wishes to all the fellow citizens on the auspicious occasion of the birth anniversary of Guru Ravidasji.

"Guru Ravidas was a great saint, poet and social reformer. Through his devotional songs, he tried to eradicate the social evils and bring about harmony in the society. He is considered a leading poet saint of the Bhakti Movement," he said, as per a communique from the Rashtrapati Bhavan.