18 September 2024
Kerala Regional holiday | Wednesday |
Sree Narayana Guru Jayanti is a regional public holiday in Kerala, India observed on August 28th each year. The state holiday marks the birthday of a notable Keralite social reformer who was born on this day in 1855. Kerala has an important and commendable tradition of honouring social reformers with public holidays. Narayana Guru is especially important as he is the only Keralite who has a holiday for both his birthday and death anniversary. Narayana Guru was born on August 28th 1855 into a lower caste family. He grew up to lead a reform movement, against the injustice in the caste-ridden societal structure in Kerala to promote social equality.
He was introduced to meditation and yoga by Ayyavu Swamikal and became a hermit for eight years in order to practice his meditation and yoga. In 1904 he opened a school for children from the lower strata of the society and provided free education to them irrespective of their caste. Narayana Guru died on September 20th 1928, at the age of 73.
It is celebrated on Chathayam day during the Onam season in Chingam month of Malayalam calendar. It marks the birthday of Narayana Guru, a saint and a social reformer of India who fought against the caste system of Hindu religion. As a state festival, the day is a public holiday for schools and offices, including banks, in Kerala. Gurus birthday is celebrated on the Chathayam asterism of the Malayalam month of Chingam (Leo). In a society broken into fragments by casteism and economic inequality, he emphasised the motto of one caste, one religion and one god. Communal harmony processions, conferences, floral tributes, community prayers, feeding for the poor and community feasts mark Jayanthi celebrations.