Chhattisgarh CMO Greets Devotees on Maa Katyayani Navratri Day
Synopsis
The Chief Minister's Office of Chhattisgarh marked the sixth day of Sharadiya Navratri 2026 with a devotional greeting invoking Maa Katyayani, praying for devotees' freedom from suffering, and linking the occasion to the state's 'Mahtari' women-welfare branding.
Key Takeaways
The Chief Minister's Office of Chhattisgarh posted a Navratri greeting on 16 October 2026 for the sixth day of Sharadiya Navratri.
The post venerates Maa Katyayani , the sixth form of Goddess Durga, described as Mahishasura Mardini .
The prayer seeks removal of disease, sorrow, anguish, fear, and sin for all devotees.
Hashtags #महतारी_का_सम्मान and #महतारी_के_मान connect the festival greeting to the state government's women-welfare 'Mahtari' policy branding.
Chhattisgarh has strong folk and tribal traditions of goddess worship, making Navratri a culturally significant occasion in the state.
On the sixth day of Sharadiya Navratri, the Chief Minister's Office of Chhattisgarh offered reverent greetings to devotees across the state, invoking the blessings of Maa Katyayani — the sixth form of Goddess Durga — and praying for the removal of disease, sorrow, anguish, fear, and sin from all her devotees.
The post, shared on Friday, 16 October 2026, carries the salutation 'Jai Maa Katyayani' and describes her as 'Mahishasura Mardini' — the slayer of the demon Mahishasura — one of the most celebrated epithets of Durga in the Shakta tradition. The message reads: 'On the auspicious occasion of Sharadiya Navratri, we bow a crore times at the feet of Maa Katyayani, the sixth form of Aadishakti Maa Durga. May Mata Rani destroy the disease, sorrow, anguish, fear, and sin of all devotees — this is our auspicious prayer.'
Navratri and the Sixth Day's Significance
Sharadiya Navratri, the autumn celebration of the nine forms of Goddess Durga, is among the most widely observed Hindu festivals in India. The sixth night — dedicated to Maa Katyayani — holds particular significance in the Shakta tradition. Katyayani is described in classical texts as the fierce warrior avatar born to the sage Katyayan to defeat demonic forces, and her worship is associated with courage, protection, and the fulfilment of righteous wishes.
Chhattisgarh, with its deep roots in tribal and folk traditions of goddess worship, observes Navratri with widespread community gatherings, jagarans (overnight devotional vigils), and temple programmes. The state's cultural identity is closely tied to the veneration of the divine feminine.
The 'Mahtari' Hashtags and Chhattisgarh's Policy Framing
Notably, the post carries the hashtags #महतारी_का_सम्मान and #महतारी_के_मान — phrases meaning 'honour of the mother' and 'dignity of the mother' in Chhattisgarhi dialect. These echo the branding of the state government's Mahtari Vandan Yojana, a financial assistance scheme for married women in Chhattisgarh, linking the festival's spirit of honouring the divine mother to the government's stated commitment to women's welfare. The invocation of Navratri through this frame is consistent with the ruling dispensation's broader cultural messaging around the goddess as a symbol of womanhood and state policy.
State governments routinely mark major religious occasions through official social media channels as a way of connecting with citizens and affirming cultural heritage — and Chhattisgarh's CMO has followed that practice here with particular warmth on this sixth auspicious night.
Point of View
But Chhattisgarh's CMO post goes a step further by weaving in the 'Mahtari' branding — rooting a devotional moment inside a policy identity. This dual framing of the goddess as both a spiritual figure and a symbol of the state's commitment to women reflects a deliberate strategy to keep welfare schemes culturally resonant year-round. It also signals how Navratri, traditionally a community-led celebration, has become an important canvas for political messaging in Hindi-belt states.
NationPress
16 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Maa Katyayani and why is she worshipped on the sixth day of Navratri?
Maa Katyayani is the sixth form of Goddess Durga in the Navratri tradition. She is venerated on the sixth night (Shashti) of Sharadiya Navratri and is celebrated as a fierce warrior goddess born to defeat demonic forces, symbolising courage and protection.
What did the Chhattisgarh CMO post on Navratri 2026?
On 16 October 2026, the Chief Minister's Office of Chhattisgarh posted a greeting honouring Maa Katyayani on the sixth day of Sharadiya Navratri, praying for devotees to be freed from disease, sorrow, fear, and sin.
What does Mahtari mean in the Chhattisgarh government's context?
'Mahtari' means 'mother' in the Chhattisgarhi dialect. The state government has used this word in its Mahtari Vandan Yojana, a financial assistance scheme for married women, and it also features in Navratri social media posts as a cultural branding element.
How is Navratri celebrated in Chhattisgarh?
Chhattisgarh observes Navratri with deep cultural fervour rooted in tribal and folk traditions of goddess worship. Celebrations typically include overnight devotional vigils called jagarans, community gatherings, and temple programmes across the state.
What is Sharadiya Navratri?
Sharadiya Navratri is the autumn edition of the nine-night Hindu festival dedicated to the nine forms of Goddess Durga. It is one of the most widely celebrated religious occasions across India, observed in the month of Ashwin according to the Hindu calendar.
