PREFACE | INTRODUCTION | ABOUT THE RAMAYANA | THE IDEOLOGY OF MAHARISHI VALMIKI’S RAMAYANA | THE ASHRAM | VALMIKI WEDDING | FESTIVALS | ARTI | ARDAS |

FESTIVALS

There are a number of religious festivals that Valmiki’s celebrate. Dussehra is celebrated in September. Often the celebrations will take place over several days and Rishi Valmik’s Ramayana is dramatized to commemorate the occasion.

Diwali is of equal importance for Valmiki’s and is celebrated in November. The word Diwali means group of lights. It signifies the return of King Rama to his kingdom of Ayodha after his banishment. Diwali is celebrated by displaying lights in and around the house and fireworks are let off. Celebrations may also be dramatized by enacting the Ramayana.

Sister's Day called Rakhi is celebrated in August and this is when sister's tie a thread around their brother wrists, and wish them a long and successful life, in return the brothers will give their sisters presents and promise to protect them. The thread is mean't to represent the special bond between brothers and sisters.

The Flag ceremony, this takes place once a year. During this ceremony devotees take down the old flag and replace it with a new flag, while other devotees sing hymns and chant prayers. Basically this ceremony denotes the renewal of one’s faith in Maharishi Valmiki.

But perhaps the most important event of the year for Valmiki’s is the birthday celebrations of Maharishi Valmiki. This tends to take place during October, the actual date of the birthday celebration varies from year to year and is determined by astrological configurations.

Often in India celebrations take place over several days and the whole event is marked by large processions through towns and cities. Once again celebrations are dramatized by enacting the Ramayana of Rishi Valmiki as well as prayer and devotional hymns. However, in the U.K celebrations are restricted to one day because of the constraints of work. It is usually celebrated on Sunday. Events in the U.K tends to be similar to those in India but on a much smaller scale.

Answer to Valmiki Critics