Valmiki Jayanti 2024: Know the date, timings, history, and significance

Thiruvanmiyur, Chennai, has one of the most well-known temples devoted to the sage.

The 1,300-year-old temple was believed to be where Valmiki slept after composing the Ramayana, which has 24,000 shlokas and 7 cantos.

It is said that when Ram exiled Sita because people questioned her ‘purity’, Valmiki rescued her and offered sanctuary.

With the festival around the corner, here’s all you need to know—from date and timings to the significance behind the day.

Valmiki Jayanti 2024: Date and Time

Valmiki Jayanti is celebrated on the full moon night, or Purnima, of the Ashwin month, as per the Hindu calendar.

In 2024, it will be observed on October 17, falling on a Thursday. As per the Drik Panchang, below are the auspicious timings for the day:

• Purnima Tithi Begins: 08:40 PM on Oct 16, 2024
• Purnima Tithi Ends: 04:55 PM on Oct 17, 2024

Valmiki Jayanti 2024: History and Significance

Maharishi Valmiki is also called ‘Adi Kavi’ which translates to the first poet of the Sanskrit language.

Notably, Valmiki interacted with Shri Rama during his exile and later provided shelter to Devi Sita in his hermitage.

According to Ramayana’s Uttarakanda, Maharishi Valmiki became the guru of Lord Ram’s twin sons Lav and Kush.

Valmiki’s early life was a highway dacoit named Ratnakar, who was transformed into a great devotee of Lord Rama by sage Narada Muni.

After years of meditation, a divine voice declared his penance successful and bestowed the new name Valmiki, meaning “born out of anthills.”

On this day, which is also known as Pragat Diwas, devotees of the Valmiki sect worship Valmiki Rishi as a form of God, perform Shobha Yatras, or processions, while singing devotional hymns and bhajans, feed the poor, and light diyas.

There are temples dedicated to him in Thiruvanmiyur, Chennai, which is considered to be one of the oldest, believed to be 1300 years old, and believed to have been built by his disciples.