Ramdev Jayanti and Teja Dashmi in Rajasthan Date in the current year: September 13, 2024

Ramdev Jayanti and Teja Dashmi are essentially a single holiday dedicated to two Hindu deities that are widely worshiped in rural Rajasthan – Veer Teja and Ramdev Pir. Veer Teja, also known as Tejaji, is considered a major incarnation of Shiva (one of the three principal deities of Hinduism, alongside Brahma and Vishnu).

Veer Teja was born in the mid-13th century in the village of Kharnal, located in present-day Rajasthan. His parents were Dhaluya Jats. There is very little known about Tejaji’s life, but after his death he came to be venerated as a martyr, since he died in battle while trying to rescue a herd of cows from a group of Mer raiders.

Before succumbing to his wounds, Tejaji allowed a snake to bite his tongue – the only area of his body what wasn’t injured. In return, the snake promised that no person or animal who sought Tejaji’s blessings would die from snakebite.

People in rural areas of Rajasthan have been celebrating Teja Dashmi to seek Veer Teja’s blessings for centuries. The biggest celebrations are held in Tejaji temples in the villages of Kharnal, where Tejaji was born, Paner, where he got married, and Sursura, where he died and attained nirvana.

On the same day as Teja Dashmi, people in Rajasthan (and some other Indian states) celebrate Ramdev Jayanti. This holiday is dedicated to Ramdev Pir (also known as Ramdeo Pir, Ramsha Pir or Ramdevji), a Medieval ruler with alleged miraculous powers, who spent his life improving the lives of the poor. He is regarded as an incarnation of Krishna or Vishnu, and many social groups worship him as their favorite deity (Ishta Devata).

Ramdev Pir was born in the mid-14th century. He went down in history as a wise and just ruler who believed in the equality of people, regardless of their origin, social status or wealth. Despite his relatively short life (at age 37, he achieved samadhi – a state of trance that brings a person close to nirvana – and left his mortal body), Ramdev did a lot of good for his subjects.

Interestingly, Ramdev is worshiped not only by Hindus, but also by Muslims. According to legend, five pirs (Sufi elders) from Mecca once came to Ramdev’s court to test his powers. He invited them to share a meal with him, but the pirs refused, saying that they couldn’t eat without their personal utensils that they had left behind in Mecca. Ramdev simply smiled and made their utensils fly all the way from Mecca. The pirs were so impressed with his powers that they decided to stay at Ramdev’s court.

While Teja Dashmi marks the anniversary of Tejaji’s death, Ramdev Jayanti corresponds to Ramdev’s birthday. On this day, a huge fair is held near his temple in the village of Ramdevra, where Ramdev achieved samadhi. Thousands of Hindu and Muslim devotees from all over Rajasthan and other states where Ramdev is worshiped as a deity (Assam, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, West Bengal) attend the fair every year.

* date for 2024