Overview
- Government offices and schools in Delhi and Uttar Pradesh closed for the day, with Delhi also observing a dry day while essential services operated.
- Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta confirmed Valmiki Jayanti will now be a yearly public holiday and pledged support for citywide cultural programming.
- Uttar Pradesh staged Akhand Ramayana recitations and large public events across all districts, including a major ceremony at Lalapur in Chitrakoot.
- UP officials detailed memorial and tourism works tied to Valmiki heritage, including a grand statue at Lalapur, a Valmiki Auditorium with library and hostel in Lucknow, and Ayodhya’s international airport already named after Valmiki.
- National leaders, including President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, issued tributes highlighting Valmiki’s teachings on social harmony and righteousness.