Valmiki Jayanti is being celebrated in different parts of the country today. The day marks the birth anniversary of Maharishi Valmiki, the author of Ramayana. Maharishi Valmiki is also revered as the ‘Adi Kavi’ or first poet of Sanskrit language. Members of the Valmiki sect also revere him as a messenger of God and celebrate Pargat Diwas with great devotion. The processions called Shobha Yatra is also taken out to mark the occasion.