Guru Ravidas Jayanti 2022: Delhi Announces February 16 As Holiday For Govt Offices

Guru Ravidas Jayanti 2022: The birth anniversary of Sant Ravidas, the great social reformer and Dalit icon and philosopher-poet of the 15th century, will be celebrated across the country on Wednesday.

Delhi's Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal (File photo: getty)

New Delhi: Delhi's Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal on Tuesday declared a holiday for all government offices on the occasion of Guru Ravidas's birthday on February 16. 

The notification, issued by Deputy Secretary-General Administration Department Promila Mitra, said, "The Lt Governor of Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi is pleased to declare Wednesday, February 16, 2022, as a holiday in all Government offices under the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi, on account of Guru Ravidas Birthday".

Delhi Government declares 16th February - on account of Guru Ravidas's birthday - as a holiday in all Govt offices, under the Govt of Delhi. pic.twitter.com/Sx6uBIYFpx

— ANI (@ANI) February 15, 2022

The Election Commission had rescheduled Punjab polling date from February 14 to February 20 as lakhs of devotees come to pay obeisance on Ravidas Jayanti in Varanasi.

On Tuesday, President Ram Nath Kovind extended his wishes 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," President Kovind tweeted.

"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.

The birth anniversary of Sant Ravidas, the great social reformer and Dalit icon and philosopher-poet of the 15th century, will be celebrated across the country on Wednesday. Wednesday will also be a public holiday in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and Haryana. 

Ravidas, born in Gobardhanpur village of Varanasi city of Uttar Pradesh, rose above discrimination and taught for the welfare of the society. He is also known for raising his voice against the evils of society. 

His father Santokh Das was a shoemaker and his mother Kalsa Devi was a housewife. According to the Hindu calendar, saint Ravidas was born on the full moon date of Magha month.