First Large-Scale Maharishi Valmiki Jayanti Celebration Held in Shahdol Division

For the first time in the Shahdol division, Maharishi Valmiki Jayanti was celebrated on a large scale at the famous Turra Dham in Ramnagar, Dola, Anuppur district. The religious and social programme, organised under the aegis of the Maharishi Valmiki Yuva Seva Samiti, Anuppur, was held on 31 October 2026.

The event included a Sundarkand recitation and a large bhandara, or community feast, in which thousands of devotees from across the region took part. The programme was described as a historic and unique initiative in the Shahdol division. Devotees, young people and prominent citizens showed considerable enthusiasm for the first major event of its kind in the division.

The programme formally began with the worship of Adi Kavi Bhagwan Maharishi Valmiki and the lighting of the ceremonial lamp. This was followed by a grand Sundarkand recitation. Devotees participated with deep devotion as musical bhajans were presented during the recitation.

After the Sundarkand programme, a large bhandara and distribution of mahaprasad were organised. Thousands of devotees who had arrived from different parts of the region accepted the prasad.

Several prominent guests attended the occasion. Those present included Dharmendra Nahar, district president of the Maharishi Valmiki Yuva Seva Samiti; Prem Chandra Yadav, district president of the Bharatiya Janata Party Other Backward Classes Morcha; Vinod Tiwari, president of the Turra Dham Committee; and Sumit Kaushik, in-charge of the Ramnagar police station. Several senior social workers and prominent citizens from the area also attended the programme.

The guests praised the organisers for starting such a historic event at the division level. They welcomed the effort to celebrate Maharishi Valmiki Jayanti on such a broad scale.

Young members of the Valmiki community played a leading role in making the event successful. Anuj Nahar, Anil Khrare, Sagar, Suraj Sankat, Brijesh, Suraj, Rahul, Vikram, Rajesh Kalsa and Vishnu Khrare were among the young community workers who contributed to the arrangements. The organisers said that the youth workers worked day and night to support the programme.

During the ceremony, speakers highlighted the life philosophy of Maharishi Valmiki, the ideals of the Ramayana era and his message of social harmony. Office-bearers of the committee said this was the first time in the Shahdol division that Valmiki Jayanti had been celebrated on such a wide scale as a public festival.

According to the committee office-bearers, the main objective of the event was to promote education, mutual brotherhood, social harmony and unity in society. The programme concluded with the distribution of mahaprasad and a pledge to maintain social unity and goodwill across the division.