Guru Ravidass Jayanti

A celebration of faith and community in Modugno

Guru Ravidass Jayanti is the annual occasion during which the Indian community of Modugno, in the province of Bari, celebrates the birth of Guru Ravidass—a 15th-century poet, mystic, and social reformer. He remains a central figure in Punjabi spirituality and a guiding light for millions of devotees in India and across the globe. In Modugno, the festival takes the form of a traditional parade through the city streets, a moment of profound spiritual and identity-based significance that blends religious devotion with collective participation.

When it is celebrated

The date of the celebration follows the Indian lunar calendar and coincides with the full moon of the month of Magh, typically falling between late January and early February. Consequently, the exact day changes from year to year: the 2026 edition took place on February 1st, while in previous years, the parade has animated the city streets on different dates within the same winter period.

The procession through the city

The heart of the event is the procession that traverses the center of Modugno: a long, festive stream of families, flags, traditional attire, and devotional songs, through which the Indian community shares its culture with the city. The parade is not merely a religious appointment, but also an opportunity for encounter, exchange, and mutual understanding between the diverse souls that make up the city's social fabric.

Integration and intercultural dialogue

The Indian community has been well-integrated into the life of Modugno for years, and the celebration of Guru Ravidass Jayanti has become a symbol of the path toward inclusion, mutual respect, and active participation promoted by the Municipality of Modugno. Recent editions have been attended by the mayor and the Councilor for Cultural Integration, testifying to an institutional dialogue that values the various identities present in the territory.

An event open to all

The parade takes place outdoors along the streets of the town center; it is free and open to anyone who wishes to watch or join the procession. For the residents of Modugno and visitors alike, it is an opportunity to discover a tradition of Punjabi culture up close, to admire the colors and sounds of the festival, and to experience a day dedicated to the meeting of peoples in a town in Puglia that has made this a source of shared pride.