Anurag Thakur Greets Nation on Navami, Invokes Maa Siddhidatri
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
On the ninth and final day of Sharadiya Navratri, BJP MP Anurag Thakur offered devotional greetings to Maa Siddhidatri, invoking the goddess's blessings for all her devotees on Monday, 19 October 2026.
In a post shared on X, Thakur wrote: 'ॐ सिद्धिदात्र्यै नम:' — 'Salutations to Maa Siddhidatri' — and offered repeated reverence to the deity on this auspicious Navami. He prayed that the goddess fulfil every wish of her devotees, closing with the traditional chant, 'Jai Mata Di.'
Who is Maa Siddhidatri — the ninth form of Durga
Maa Siddhidatri is the ninth and concluding form of Goddess Durga venerated during Navratri. Her name translates as 'the giver of siddhis' — supernatural spiritual accomplishments — and she is believed to bestow upon devotees eight classical siddhis, including wisdom, strength, and inner fulfilment. Navami worship marks the culmination of the nine-night festival cycle.
Sharadiya Navratri, the autumnal edition of the festival, is among the most widely observed Hindu celebrations across India, with prayers, fasting, and community gatherings held in homes, temples, and public spaces from Kashmir to Kanyakumari.
Festival greetings as political-cultural outreach
Thakur's post follows a well-established pattern among Indian elected representatives of all parties: marking each of the nine days of Navratri with deity-specific devotional messages on social media. For a Lok Sabha MP from Hamirpur, Himachal Pradesh — a region with deep roots in Shakti worship — such greetings carry both spiritual resonance and constituent outreach.
As Navami closes the festival, devotees across the country observe Kanya Puja, the ritual honouring young girls as manifestations of the goddess, before the immersion of idols on Vijayadashami.