Take a Holy Dip at Dawn
On Saturday, February 20, 2027, Guru Ravidas Jayanti falls on Magh Purnima, the full moon of the month of Magh. Devotees traditionally begin the day with a holy dip in a river, then move on to gurdwaras and temples. In Ahmedabad, the Sabarmati riverfront is the natural place to start: arrive early, watch the full moon set over the water while families gather along the promenade, and follow the flow of worshippers toward the city's gurdwaras for the morning's first kirtan.
Follow the Nagar Kirtan and Hear the Verses
The centrepiece of the day is the Nagar Kirtan, a devotional procession through the streets. In some years, participants dress as Guru Ravidas himself, and the singing of kirtan continues along the route. Wherever you are in the city, listen for the sound of devotional singing and join the procession as it passes. Inside the gurdwaras, take time to sit and listen to readings from Guru Ravidas's verses: 41 of his hymns are included in the Guru Granth Sahib, and the Ravidassia faith, which emerged as a separate religion in the early 21st century, reads from its own scripture, the Amritbani Guru Ravidas Ji.
Share a Langar and Give to Charity
Langar, the free community meal, is organised at gurdwaras and temples throughout the day, and everyone who comes is fed. Sit down with your neighbours, share a plate, and stay for the conversation. Charity is another cornerstone of the observance: give what you can, whether to the temple collection or to those in need on the street. The day is built around Guru Ravidas's vision of Begampura, a city without sorrow or fear where all are equal, and the shared meal is where that vision is most visible.
Know the Timing and the Holiday
In 2027 the date is fixed: Saturday, February 20. It is classified as a Restricted or Optional Holiday in India, not a gazetted public holiday, so government offices and most businesses remain open. That means the city keeps its ordinary rhythm while the celebrations unfold alongside it: plan your visits to gurdwaras and temples for the morning and evening hours, when kirtan and langar are most active, and expect processions to move through the streets during the day. Because the date follows the lunar calendar, it shifts each year, so confirm locally as the day approaches.
Carry the Day's Message Home
Guru Ravidas was born in 1450 in Seer Goverdhanpur village near Varanasi, into a family of leather workers, and died around 1540. He was a contemporary of Kabir and is acknowledged as Meera Bai's spiritual guide. His birthplace, the Shri Guru Ravidas Janam Asthan Mandir, draws pilgrims every year, but you do not need to travel to Varanasi to mark his birth: in Ahmedabad, the dip, the procession, the kirtan, and the langar are all within reach. Start planning your February 2027 visit around the full moon, and let the city's celebrations carry you through the day.