The birth anniversary of Maharishi Valmiki is celebrated
every year on the full moon day in the month of Ashwin.  This time Maharishi Valmiki Jayanti is taking
place on October 20.  According to
mythological texts, the important epic of Hinduism was composed by Maharishi
Valmiki.  The Ramayana written in Sanskrit
language by Valmiki is considered to be the oldest.  Due to the composition of the first epic of
Sanskrit language, he is also called Adikavi. 

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The Ramayana written by Maharishi Valmiki has been
translated into many languages and is famous all over the world.  His procession is taken out on Maharishi
Valmiki Jayanti and many big events are also organized.  

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Here’s the importance and history of Valmiki Jayanti:

 There is no concrete
evidence about the birth of Maharishi Valmiki, but according to the legends, he
is believed to have been born to Maharishi Kashyap and Aditi’s ninth son Varun
and his wife Charshni, but there is another folktale about the life of
Maharishi Valmiki, whose according to him, he was stole the Bhil, after which
he was brought up in the Bhil society. His name was Ratnakar, used to rob
people for the maintenance of his family.

 At one time he had
taken Narada Muni hostage, after which he had a change of heart after listening
to the words of Narada Muni and he chose the path of God by renouncing immoral
deeds.  It is said that the first verse
was also composed by him.

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 In the Ramayana
written by Maharishi Valmiki, the description of Luv-Kush, the sons of Lord
Shri Ram and Mother Sita, is also found. 
According to the story, when Mother Sita was abandoned by Lord Rama, she
lived in the ashram of Maharishi Valmiki and it was here that Luv-Kush was also
born and knowledge was given to her by Valmiki.