CM Samrat Choudhary joins Guru Ravidas 650th Jayanti event
Synopsis
Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary joined the live broadcast of the 650th birth anniversary celebrations of Sant Shiromani Shri Guru Ravidas Ji Maharaj on August 7, 2026, lending official state recognition to the milestone commemoration of the revered Bhakti saint.
Key Takeaways
Bihar CM Samrat Choudhary participated in the 650th Jayanti celebrations of Guru Ravidas Ji on August 7, 2026 .
Guru Ravidas was a 15th-16th century Bhakti movement saint born in Varanasi , whose verses championed spiritual equality.
His compositions are included in the Guru Granth Sahib , reflecting his cross-community reverence.
The event was broadcast live , extending access to devotees across Bihar and beyond.
State governments in India routinely mark Bhakti-saint anniversaries, especially in states with large follower communities.
A saint whose verses on equality echoed across centuries drew renewed reverence on Friday, August 7, 2026, as Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary joined the live celebrations marking the 650th birth anniversary of Sant Shiromani Shri Guru Ravidas Ji Maharaj.
Who was Guru Ravidas — and why 650 years still matter
Guru Ravidas, the revered Bhakti movement saint and poet born in Varanasi, composed devotional verses that cut through caste hierarchies at a time when such ideas were radical. His teachings — centred on spiritual equality and direct devotion to the divine — earned him a place among the most beloved saints of the subcontinent, with millions of followers across Dalit and broader Hindu communities to this day.
Several of his compositions were enshrined in the Guru Granth Sahib, underscoring the cross-community reach of his message. The Jayanti (birth anniversary) is observed each year on the full moon of the Hindu month of Magh, and milestone anniversaries like the 650th draw especially large public gatherings.
Bihar's official mark on a community celebration
Chief Minister Choudhary's participation signals the Bihar government's formal recognition of the occasion. State governments across India routinely lend official weight to Bhakti-saint anniversaries, particularly in states with large follower populations — and Bihar, with its deep historical ties to the Bhakti tradition, is no exception.
The event, broadcast live, extends the reach of the commemoration well beyond the physical venue, allowing devotees across the state and beyond to participate in the tribute.
Point of View
Official presence at milestone anniversary events serves both as genuine tribute and as a visible signal of outreach to communities that follow Guru Ravidas's teachings. The 650th anniversary — a generational milestone — amplifies the symbolic weight of the occasion beyond a routine annual observance.
NationPress
7 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Guru Ravidas and why is his Jayanti celebrated?
Guru Ravidas was a 15th-16th century Bhakti movement saint born in Varanasi whose devotional poetry emphasised social equality and spiritual devotion. His Jayanti is celebrated on the full moon of the Hindu month of Magh by millions of devotees, particularly in Dalit communities across India.
What is the significance of the 650th Jayanti of Guru Ravidas?
The 650th birth anniversary is a major milestone commemoration that draws larger-than-usual public gatherings and official government participation, marking six-and-a-half centuries of the saint's enduring influence on Indian spiritual and social thought.
Why did Bihar CM Samrat Choudhary attend the Guru Ravidas Jayanti event?
As Bihar Chief Minister, Samrat Choudhary's participation lends official state recognition to the celebration and reflects the government's acknowledgement of Guru Ravidas's importance to Dalit and Bhakti communities in Bihar.
Is Guru Ravidas connected to the Sikh faith?
Yes. Several of Guru Ravidas's compositions are enshrined in the Guru Granth Sahib, the holy scripture of Sikhism, underscoring his cross-community spiritual significance beyond any single religious tradition.
Where was Guru Ravidas born?
Guru Ravidas is traditionally said to have been born in Varanasi, in present-day Uttar Pradesh, India.
