Raipur, Aug 04: Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnudeo Sai on Tuesday announced that Saint Ravidas Jayanti (Maghi Purnima) will be observed as a public holiday across the state from 2027, along with a complete ban on the sale of meat and liquor on the occasion.

Participating in the ‘Kalash Vandan Maha Abhiyan’ organised at Deendayal Upadhyay Auditorium to mark the 650th birth anniversary year of Saint Guru Ravidas, Chief Minister Sai also announced the institution of a new Rajya Alankaran Award in the memory of the saint. The award will be conferred annually during the State Foundation Day celebrations.

Addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister stated that a major junction in Nava Raipur would be named after Saint Ravidas. He added that the state government, in consultation with the Legislative Assembly Speaker, would initiate steps to inscribe the saint’s famous message on social equality within the Assembly premises.

“Saint Guru Ravidas Maharaj’s life is an eternal message of social harmony, equality, devotion, and dignity of labour. His teachings inspire society to rise above discrimination and embrace equal rights, forming the foundation of a developed India,” Chief Minister Sai said.

As part of the campaign, the Chief Minister offered prayers before a sacred Kalash containing soil and water brought from Seer Govardhanpur in Varanasi, the birthplace of Saint Ravidas. He subsequently handed over sacred urns to district representatives and flagged off awareness vehicles to carry the message of social harmony to rural areas across Chhattisgarh.

Cabinet Minister Guru Khushwant Saheb, Revenue Minister Tank Ram Verma, Food Minister Dayal Das Baghel, Women and Child Development Minister Laxmi Rajwade, along with several legislators and religious leaders, were present at the event.