Nation celebrates Guru Ravidas Jayanti and Maghi Purnima

New Delhi, Feb 9 (ANI): Guru Ravidas Jayanti and the festival of Maghi Purnima are being celebrated with much fervour and gaiety throughout the country today.

Celebrating the last month of winter on Maghi Purnima, a large number of people in Uttar Pradesh are taking holy dips in rivers at several places including Varanasi, Ayodhya, Mathura, Chitrakoot and Garhmukteshwar.

The month long bathing festival at Allahabad will also come to an end today with fifth and last religious holy dip on the occasion of Maghi Purnima.

Nearly 2.5 million pilgrims are taking holy dip in Sangam, the confluence of Ganga, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati.

Meanwhile, President Pratibha Devisingh Patil has greeted fellow citizens on the occasion of Guru Ravidas Jayanti.

"Guru Ravidas, a great Saint and social reformer fought against inequality and injustice and worked for the establishment of a society based on equality, compassion and justice," she said.

"May we derive inspiration from the teachings of this great Saint and reformer to rededicate ourselves for the building of a more tolerant society," Patil added.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh also extended his warm wishes to the people of the country. He said that the teachings of the Guru have been a source of knowledge and wisdom and would continue to inspire the egalitarian spirit of our society." (ANI)