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Members of the Ravidassia community recently renewed their demand for a separate "Ravidassia religion" category in the Census, highlighting their distinct religious identity based on the teachings of Guru Ravidas.

Who are the Ravidassias?

The Ravidassias are a Dalit community whose spiritual beliefs are centred on the teachings of Guru Ravidas, a prominent saint of the Bhakti Movement.

The community is predominantly concentrated in the Doaba region of Punjab, covering districts such as Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur, Kapurthala and Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar (Nawanshahr).

Key Features of the Ravidassia Tradition

The Ravidassia faith is founded on the principles of social equality, dignity and spiritual liberation, as propounded by Guru Ravidas.

Its distinctive features include:

• Holy Book:Amrit Bani Guru Ravidas Ji, comprising 200 hymns attributed to Guru Ravidas.
• Concept of Begampura: An ideal society envisioned by Guru Ravidas, free from sorrow, fear, inequality and discrimination.
• Major Pilgrimage Centre:Seer Goverdhanpur, Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh), regarded as the birthplace of Guru Ravidas and the holiest site of the Ravidassia tradition.

Guru Ravidas

Guru Ravidas (1377–1527 CE) was one of the foremost saints of the Bhakti Movement. He is also known by the names Raidas, Rohidas and Ruhidas.

Traditionally regarded as a disciple of Sant Ramananda, Guru Ravidas was also a contemporary of Sant Kabir.

His teachings emphasised:

• Equality of all human beings.
• Rejection of the caste system and untouchability.
• Human dignity and social justice.
• Spiritual freedom through devotion.
• Worship of the Nirguna (formless) Supreme Being rather than Saguna (idol-based) forms.

His vision of Begampurasymbolised an egalitarian society free from oppression, injustice and social hierarchy.