Kevat Jayanti 2026: The Divine Story of Lord Rama's Devotee (केवट जयंती)
AstroAnanta Team
May 2, 2026
4 Min Read
86
Key Takeaway
Kevat Jayanti honors Bhakt Kevat (Guhraj Nishad), the devoted boatman who helped Lord Rama, Mata Sita, and Lakshmana cross the Ganga river during their exile. On this day, the Nishad and Kevat communities celebrate with grand processions and worship Lord Rama along with Kevat.
🚩 केवट जयंती आज (Kevat Jayanti)
A glorious day dedicated to pure, unconditional devotion! भक्त केवट वही महान आत्मा हैं जिन्होंने त्रेतायुग में भगवान राम, माता सीता और लक्ष्मण जी को गंगा नदी पार कराई थी। Pleased by his absolute devotion, Lord Rama and Mata Sita showered him with eternal blessings.
Every year, the Nishad and Kevat communities across India celebrate this historic day with great zeal, following their unique local traditions. Let us dive deep into the emotional and spiritual episode of Ayodhya Kand in the Ramayana, where a simple boatman won the heart of the Supreme Lord.
🛶 कौन थे केवट? (Who Was Bhakt Kevat?)
Bhakt Kevat, famously known as Guhraj Nishad (गुहराज निषादजी), was the king of Shringverpur and the head of the fishermen and boatmen community (निषादराज गुह मछुआरों और नाविकों के मुखिया थे)।
The Journey to the River
When Lord Rama was exiled (वनवास), his first stop was the Tamsa River (20 km from Ayodhya). From there, they crossed the Gomti River and finally arrived at Shringverpur, which was located 20-22 km away from Prayagraj (Allahabad).
The Meeting at Shringverpur
Shringverpur was the kingdom of Guhraj Nishad. It was here, at the serene banks of the holy Ganga, that Lord Rama requested the boatman (Kevat) to help them cross the river to continue their journey into the forest.
📖 The Touching Incident from Ayodhya Kand
The interaction between Lord Rama and Kevat is one of the most beautiful dialogues in the Ramayana. When Lord Rama asked for the boat, Kevat playfully refused!
चरन कमल रज कहुं सबु कहई। मानुष करनि मूरि कछु अहई॥
अर्थ (Meaning): श्रीराम ने केवट से नाव मांगी, पर वह लाता नहीं है। वह कहने लगा- "प्रभु, मैंने तुम्हारा मर्म जान लिया है! सब लोग कहते हैं कि आपके चरण कमलों की धूल में कोई ऐसी जादुई जड़ी-बूटी है जो पत्थर को भी स्त्री बना देती है (referring to the Ahilya incident)।"
Kevat cleverly insisted: "पहले पांव धुलवाओ, फिर नाव पर चढ़ाऊंगा।" (First, let me wash your feet, only then will I let you board my boat. If my wooden boat turns into a woman from the dust of your feet, how will I feed my family?) Smiling at his innocent devotion, Lord Rama allowed Kevat to wash his feet, blessing him immensely.
After successfully crossing the Ganga, Lord Rama felt indebted. Since he had no money, he offered his precious ring to Kevat as the boat fare (उतराई).
However, Kevat fell at his feet, flatly refusing the ring, and said with tears in his eyes:
"प्रभु, जिस तरह मैंने आज आपको इस पार उतारा है, आप भी मुझे इस भवसागर के उस पार उतार देना।"
(O Lord! Just as I helped you cross this river today, please help me cross the vast ocean of birth and death when my time comes.)
🎉 क्या करते हैं इस दिन? (How is it Celebrated?)
To honor this supreme devotion, Kevat Jayanti is celebrated massively across various states. भारत के निषाद समाज और केवट समाज द्वारा यह दिन विशेष रूप से मनाया जाता है:
- यह जयंती बड़े ही धूम-धाम और उत्साह के साथ मनाई जाती है।
- इस दिन भव्य चल समारोह (Grand Processions) और झांकियां निकाली जाती हैं।
- केवट समाज के लोग प्रभु श्रीराम के साथ-साथ भक्त गुहराज निषादजी की विशेष पूजा-अर्चना करते हैं।
- भजन-कीर्तन और रामायण के अयोध्या कांड का पाठ किया जाता है।
