The Delhi government announced Tuesday that all schools in the national capital will remain close on Wednesday on account of Guru Ravidas Jayanti.

Declaring February 16 as a holiday, the government said, “All the government, government-aided and unrecognised schools of Directorate of Education, Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCT), Municipal corporation, New Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) and Delhi cantonment board shall observe a holiday tomorrow i.e. 16 February.”

Lt Governor Anil Baijal had earlier declared a holiday for government offices, cancelling the previously decided restricted holiday on February 14, reported ANI.

Also Read: Guru Ravidas Jayanti: Who celebrates it and why do they travel to Varanasi

Delhi government offices will also remain shut. The state government issued a statement, “The Lieutenant Governor of the national capital territory of Delhi is pleased to declare Wednesday, 16 February 2022 as a holiday in all government offices under the government of the national capital territory of Delhi on account of Sant guru Ravidas birthday.”

This year celebrates the 645th birth anniversary of Guru Ravidas, a prominent saint noted for his contributions to the Bhakti movement.

The day is celebrated in North India, particularly in Chandigarh, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, and Punjab. His devotional melodies and poems, also known as Raidas, Rohidas, and Ruhidas, had a long-lasting effect on the Bhakti Movement.

Around 40 of the poetry attributed to Ravidas were incorporated in the Adi Granth, Sikhism’s sacred text. Ravidas is widely believed to have met Nanak, the first Guru, and founder of the Sikh faith.

Also Read | Who was Guru Ravidas?

Through his poems and spiritual teachings, he was among the first to protest the Indian caste system and propagate the concept of equality.

To mark the occasion, the poem ‘Amritbani Guru Ravidas Ji’ is recited aloud and a special aarti is done by the devotees. On this day, devotees bathe in the sacred river. Prayers are also offered at Guru Ravidas’ temples, particularly in the bhawans.

Also Read | Punjab polls postponed to February 20 in light of Guru Ravidas Jayanti

Meanwhile, the Election Commission of India postponed the Punjab assembly elections for February 20 after political parties asked the poll panel to postpone them until after the Guru Ravidas Jayanti holiday.

Elections in Punjab were previously set on February 14. Political parties had warned the EC that if the election was held just two days before Guru Ravidas Jayanti, many people would be unable to vote.