Rajnath Singh, Yogi Adityanath join Shivraj Chouhan in Bhopal to mourn mother Kashi Bai
Synopsis
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, UP CM Yogi Adityanath, and chief ministers of Haryana and Chhattisgarh converged on Bhopal on 12 November for the Trayodashi mourning ceremony of Kashi Bai, mother of Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who passed away at AIIMS Bhopal on 30 October.
Key Takeaways
Kashi Bai , mother of Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan , passed away on 30 October at AIIMS Bhopal after a prolonged illness.
Her last rites were performed at ancestral village Jait , Sehore district, Madhya Pradesh , as per Vedic traditions.
A Trayodashi and Gangajali Pujan ceremony was held in Bhopal on 12 November , thirteen days after her death.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and UP CM Yogi Adityanath attended the ceremony and met Chouhan's family.
Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini , Chhattisgarh CM Vishnu Deo Sai , and Deputy CMs Vijay Sharma and Arun Sao were also present.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath were among a gathering of senior political leaders who travelled to Bhopal on Thursday, 12 November 2026, to pay their respects to Kashi Bai, the mother of Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. The leaders attended a Trayodashi and Gangajali Pujan ceremony organised in her memory, thirteen days after her passing.
Who Attended the Ceremony
Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini and Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai also joined the mourning family in Bhopal. Chhattisgarh Deputy Chief Ministers Vijay Sharma and Arun Sao were among other dignitaries who made the journey to express their condolences. The gathering brought together leaders from the Centre and multiple states, united in solidarity with the bereaved family.
Kashi Bai's Passing and Last Rites
Kashi Bai passed away on 30 October at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Bhopal, where she had been receiving treatment after a prolonged period of illness. Her last rites were conducted at her ancestral village Jait in Sehore district, Madhya Pradesh, following Vedic traditions and religious rituals.
Significance of the Trayodashi Ceremony
The Trayodashi is a traditional Hindu observance held on the thirteenth day after a person's death, marking a significant moment in the mourning period. The ceremony was combined with a Gangajali Pujan as part of the religious observances in Kashi Bai's memory. Leaders offered floral tributes to her portrait and personally met Chouhan and his family members to convey their condolences.
Chouhan's Role and Outpouring of Support
Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who holds the portfolios of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare and Rural Development in the Union Cabinet, has received an extensive outpouring of condolences from political leaders, colleagues, and well-wishers since his mother's demise. The visit by so many senior figures to Bhopal underscores the deep personal and political regard held for Chouhan across party and state lines. The family is expected to continue receiving visitors as the mourning period concludes.
Point of View
A Chief Minister of India's most populous state, and multiple other CMs — at a private mourning ceremony reflects the political weight Shivraj Singh Chouhan carries within the Bharatiya Janata Party's national structure. This was not a ceremonial token; senior leaders made in-person journeys to Bhopal, signalling the esteem in which Chouhan is held after his long tenure as Madhya Pradesh CM. It also highlights how personal bonds remain a currency of power in Indian coalition-era politics, often as important as ideology or hierarchy. The gathering is a quiet but telling measure of Chouhan's standing in the current dispensation.
NationPress
12 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where was the Trayodashi ceremony held?
The Trayodashi and Gangajali Pujan ceremony was held in Bhopal on 12 November, thirteen days after Kashi Bai's death on 30 October. It was organised as part of traditional Hindu mourning observances in her memory.
Which leaders attended the mourning ceremony in Bhopal?
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini, Chhattisgarh CM Vishnu Deo Sai, and Chhattisgarh Deputy CMs Vijay Sharma and Arun Sao were among the prominent leaders who attended. They offered floral tributes and met Shivraj Singh Chouhan's family.
Where were Kashi Bai's last rites performed?
Kashi Bai's last rites were performed at her ancestral village Jait in Sehore district, Madhya Pradesh, in accordance with Vedic traditions and religious rituals.
What portfolios does Shivraj Singh Chouhan currently hold?
Shivraj Singh Chouhan serves as a Union Cabinet Minister holding the portfolios of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare and Rural Development in the current government.
