Amit Shah marks Gujarati New Year in Ahmedabad, greets BJP leaders and citizens
Synopsis
Amit Shah turned his Gujarat festive visit into a mix of cultural celebration and statecraft — greeting citizens and BJP workers on Bestu Varas while also inaugurating ₹1,024 crore worth of development projects and holding internal security reviews, including talks on the 2030 Commonwealth Games.
Key Takeaways
Amit Shah celebrated Gujarati New Year (Bestu Varas) at his Ahmedabad residence on 10 November 2026 .
BJP legislators, MPs, and party workers joined citizens at the gathering.
On Monday , Shah inaugurated 30 development projects worth ₹1,024 crore in his Gandhinagar Lok Sabha constituency.
His four-day Gujarat visit covered Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar, blending festive programmes with official duties.
Meetings with state officials addressed internal security, law and order, and preparations for the 2030 Commonwealth Games .
Vikram Samvat 2083 begins on the day after Diwali and is marked by temple prayers and family gatherings.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday, 10 November 2026, celebrated the Gujarati New Year — also known as Bestu Varas or Nutan Varsh — at his residence in Ahmedabad, where people from various walks of life gathered to exchange festive greetings marking the start of Vikram Samvat 2083. The occasion drew BJP legislators, Members of Parliament, and party workers alongside members of the public.
Shah's New Year Message
In a post on social media platform X, Shah extended his wishes to Gujaratis across the state. 'Heartfelt New Year greetings to all Gujarati brothers and sisters. May this New Year bring a new light of happiness, peace, prosperity and joy into your lives. I pray that the blessings of Goddess Lakshmi continue to shower upon every family,' he wrote.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also conveyed New Year greetings, wishing citizens happiness, peace, prosperity, and good health.
Four-Day Gujarat Visit
The Ahmedabad celebration is part of a four-day visit to Gujarat that Shah undertook during the Diwali and Gujarati New Year festive period. The trip combined public celebrations with an active official and organisational schedule across Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar.
Development Projects Inaugurated
On Monday, Shah inaugurated and laid the foundation stones for 30 development projects worth approximately ₹1,024 crore in his Gandhinagar Lok Sabha constituency. The projects span civic infrastructure, housing, and water-related facilities. He also inaugurated an advanced library in Jodhpur Ward and an Urban Primary Health Centre in the Gota-Science City area of Ahmedabad.
Security and Commonwealth Games Talks
The visit included meetings with senior Gujarat state government officials covering internal security, law and order, urban development, and logistical preparations for the 2030 Commonwealth Games. This underlines the dual nature of Shah's Gujarat engagements — blending constituency outreach with his national portfolio responsibilities as Home Minister.
About Bestu Varas
The Gujarati New Year falls on the day after Diwali and is traditionally observed with prayers at temples, family gatherings, and the exchange of greetings. The start of Vikram Samvat 2083 carries particular cultural and religious significance for Gujarati communities both in India and abroad, making it one of the most widely observed regional new year festivals in the country.
Point of View
024 crore in projects on the eve of Bestu Varas amplifies both the developmental and the electoral messaging simultaneously. The inclusion of 2030 Commonwealth Games preparatory talks signals that Gujarat's global-event ambitions are now firmly on the Home Ministry's radar. What mainstream coverage tends to underplay is the security-review dimension: a sitting Home Minister personally chairing law-and-order meetings in his home state, ahead of a mega-event, carries institutional weight beyond the festive headlines.
NationPress
10 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Where did Amit Shah celebrate the Gujarati New Year?
Shah celebrated the Gujarati New Year, known as Bestu Varas or Nutan Varsh, at his residence in Ahmedabad on 10 November 2026. The gathering included BJP legislators, MPs, party workers, and members of the public.
What is Bestu Varas or Gujarati New Year?
Bestu Varas marks the beginning of the Vikram Samvat calendar year and falls on the day after Diwali. Vikram Samvat 2083 began this year and is traditionally observed with temple prayers, family gatherings, and the exchange of greetings.
What development projects did Amit Shah inaugurate during his Gujarat visit?
On Monday, Shah inaugurated and laid foundation stones for 30 development projects worth approximately ₹1,024 crore in his Gandhinagar Lok Sabha constituency. The projects cover civic infrastructure, housing, water facilities, a library in Jodhpur Ward, and an Urban Primary Health Centre in the Gota-Science City area.
What official meetings did Amit Shah hold during the Gujarat visit?
Shah met senior Gujarat state government officials to discuss internal security, law and order, urban development, and preparations for the 2030 Commonwealth Games. The meetings were part of his four-day visit to Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar.
Did Prime Minister Modi also send Gujarati New Year greetings?
Yes, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also extended New Year greetings on the occasion, wishing citizens happiness, peace, prosperity, and good health.
