Schools and colleges in Delhi and Uttar Pradesh will remain closed on October 7 to mark Maharishi Valmiki Jayanti, a day celebrating the birth anniversary of the revered Sanskrit poet and sage.
In Delhi, the Directorate of Education (DoE) has included Valmiki Jayanti in its official calendar for the 2025-26 academic session, making it an official public holiday for all government schools. Additionally, all Delhi government offices will also remain closed, as confirmed in a statement by the Chief Minister of Delhi.
In Uttar Pradesh, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced a state-wide public holiday on October 7, highlighting the cultural and spiritual importance of the occasion. Temples across the state will hold continuous recitations of the Ramayana, and both government and private educational institutions will remain closed.
Who Was Maharishi Valmiki?
Maharishi Valmiki, known as the Adikavi (first poet) of Sanskrit, is celebrated for composing the Ramayana, a 24,000-verse epic divided into seven sections. Guided by Narad Muni and blessed by Lord Brahma, he introduced the shloka form, which shaped classical Sanskrit poetry. Valmiki Jayanti commemorates his literary contributions and his personal transformation—from a highway robber to a revered sage—through spiritual gatherings, processions, and devotion.
Meanwhile, in the Jammu division, schools will remain closed on October 6 and 7 due to heavy rainfall warnings issued by the Meteorological Department, affecting both government and private institutions.
