Ambedkar Jayanti 2026 आंबेडकर जयंती

Why Ambedkar Jayanti is celebrated

Ambedkar Jayanti marks the birth anniversary of Dr Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar, the chief architect of the Constitution of India. In 2026 the country observes his 135th birth anniversary on Tuesday, 14 April.

For millions of Indians the day celebrates dignity and equal rights. Ambedkar spent his life fighting caste discrimination and untouchability, and he worked for the rights of women and labourers. His message to "educate, agitate, organise" still guides social movements. Many people call the day Bhim Jayanti, and some groups observe it as a day of equality.

History and story of Ambedkar Jayanti

Ambedkar was born on 14 April 1891 in Mhow, an army cantonment in present day Madhya Pradesh. The town is now officially named Dr. Ambedkar Nagar. His family belonged to the Mahar community, which was treated as untouchable, and he faced humiliation at school from a young age. Even so, he earned doctorates from Columbia University in New York and the London School of Economics, and qualified as a barrister.

He chaired the Drafting Committee of the Constituent Assembly, which prepared the Constitution adopted in November 1949. He served as independent India's first Law Minister. In October 1956, weeks before his death, he embraced Buddhism in Nagpur along with lakhs of followers. The Bharat Ratna was conferred on him after his death, in 1990. His associate Janardan Sadashiv Ranapisey is credited with starting public celebration of his birthday in Pune in 1928.

How Ambedkar Jayanti is celebrated

The day starts early at Chaitya Bhoomi in Mumbai, where Ambedkar was cremated, and at Deekshabhoomi in Nagpur, where he took up Buddhism. Followers queue there to pay respects. Across the country, people garland his statues, take out processions with blue flags and portraits, and sing songs in his honour. Buddhist followers visit viharas and recite the Panchsheel. Schools, colleges and government bodies hold talks, essay contests and readings of the Preamble to the Constitution, while national leaders pay floral tributes in New Delhi.

Ambedkar Jayanti across India

Maharashtra sees the largest gatherings, but the day is marked with energy in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Karnataka, Telangana and Madhya Pradesh, where Mhow hosts a big gathering at the memorial at his birthplace. In Uttarakhand, social groups in Dehradun, Haridwar and other towns hold processions, blood donation camps and meetings at Ambedkar statues.