CM Bhagwant Mann joins Valmiki Jayanti Shobha Yatra in Dhuri
Synopsis
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann joined a grand Valmiki Jayanti Shobha Yatra at Gandhi Basti in Dhuri, Sangrur on 25 October 2026, flagging off the procession and invoking Maharishi Valmiki's teachings of goodness, truth, and equality from the Ramayana.
Key Takeaways
Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann attended and flagged off a Shobha Yatra at Gandhi Basti, Dhuri (Sangrur) on 25 October 2026 .
The event was dedicated to the Prakash Purab of Maharishi Bhagwan Valmiki , observed as his birth anniversary.
Mann quoted the Ramayana as conveying the message of 'goodness, truth, and equality' to society.
He extended Valmiki Jayanti greetings to all communities in Punjab and the global Punjabi diaspora.
The Jayanti itself falls on 26 October 2026 , with celebrations held across Punjab and beyond.
Mann called on everyone to pledge to walk the path shown by Maharishi Valmiki.
A grand Shobha Yatra (procession) wound through Gandhi Basti in Dhuri, Sangrur on Sunday, 25 October 2026, and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann was there to flag it off — dedicating the event to the Prakash Purab (birth anniversary) of Maharishi Bhagwan Valmiki.
Sharing visuals from the procession, Mann invoked the sage's timeless scripture: 'Bhagwan Valmiki ji vallon rachit pavittar Ramayana saanu neki, sachhai ate samanta da sunehaa dindi hai' — 'The sacred Ramayana composed by Bhagwan Valmiki gives us the message of goodness, truth, and equality.' He called Valmiki's teachings a chanan munara, a lighthouse, that continues to guide society today.
Dhuri's Gandhi Basti at the centre of the celebration
Dhuri is a town in Sangrur district, a constituency that has long been significant political terrain in Punjab. The procession in Gandhi Basti drew participants from the local Valmiki community, one of the prominent Scheduled Caste groups in the state. Mann personally performed the ravangee di rasam — the formal flag-off ceremony — before the yatra began its route through the locality.
The Valmiki community, which regards Maharishi Valmiki as its patron saint and reveres the Ramayana as its foundational scripture, observes the Jayanti as one of its most significant annual occasions. Processions, community prayers, and cultural programmes mark the festival across Punjab and in Valmiki diaspora communities worldwide.
Valmiki Jayanti and Punjab's political calendar
Indian political leaders across party lines routinely participate in Valmiki Jayanti processions — an observance that carries both religious and social weight given the sage's revered status among Dalit communities, particularly in Punjab, Haryana, and Delhi. For state governments, presence at such events is part of standard outreach during major festivals that hold deep significance for Scheduled Caste constituencies.
Mann extended greetings for Valmiki Jayanti — falling on Monday, 26 October 2026 — to all sangats (congregations) in Punjab and among the Punjabi diaspora abroad. 'Let us all together take a pledge to walk the path shown by him,' he said, closing with a collective call to action.
With Maharishi Valmiki's legacy touching philosophy, literature, and social equality in equal measure, the Jayanti remains a moment that cuts across cultural and political lines — a reminder that a 2,500-year-old epic still shapes the moral vocabulary of modern India.
Point of View
Where Dalits constitute over 30 percent of the population — the highest proportion of any Indian state. Participation in Valmiki Jayanti processions carries tangible electoral and social significance, particularly in Sangrur, a district with a large Valmiki community presence. By personally performing the flag-off and invoking the Ramayana's message of equality, Mann reinforces AAP's positioning as a party of social inclusion ahead of any future electoral cycle. The broader pattern across Indian politics — where leaders of all stripes attend such observances — underscores how Valmiki Jayanti has become a fixture on the official political calendar, not just the religious one.
NationPress
25 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Valmiki Jayanti and when is it in 2026?
Valmiki Jayanti is the birth anniversary of Maharishi Valmiki , the ancient sage credited with composing the Ramayana. In 2026 , it falls on 26 October .
Why did Bhagwant Mann attend the Shobha Yatra in Dhuri?
Bhagwant Mann attended the Shobha Yatra at Gandhi Basti, Dhuri to mark the Prakash Purab of Maharishi Valmiki and to engage with the local Valmiki community ahead of Valmiki Jayanti on 26 October 2026 .
What is a Shobha Yatra?
A Shobha Yatra is a ceremonial religious procession, typically featuring devotional music, decorated floats, and community participation, held to honour a deity or revered figure.
Where is Gandhi Basti, Dhuri located?
Gandhi Basti is a locality in Dhuri , a town in Sangrur district of Punjab , India.
What did Bhagwant Mann say about Maharishi Valmiki?
Mann said the sacred Ramayana composed by Maharishi Valmiki gives the message of 'goodness, truth, and equality,' calling his teachings a lighthouse for society even today.
