Chirag Paswan extends Dhanteras greetings to the nation
Synopsis
Union Minister Chirag Paswan marked Dhanteras on 6 November 2026 with a Hindi post on X, invoking Lord Dhanvantari and Goddess Lakshmi to wish the nation good health, prosperity, and happiness on one of the most auspicious evenings of the Hindu calendar.
Key Takeaways
Union Minister Chirag Paswan posted Dhanteras greetings on 6 November 2026 .
He invoked both Lord Dhanvantari (deity of Ayurveda and health) and Goddess Lakshmi (deity of wealth).
The message was shared in Hindi on X, reflecting cultural outreach during the Diwali season.
Paswan serves as Union Minister of Food Processing Industries and national president of Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) .
Dhanteras falls on the thirteenth lunar day before Diwali, combining themes of wealth ( dhan ) and health.
As millions across India light their first lamps of the Diwali season, Union Food Processing Minister Chirag Paswan extended warm Dhanteras greetings on Friday, 6 November 2026, invoking the blessings of Lord Dhanvantari and Goddess Lakshmi for health, happiness, and prosperity.
Posting on X in Hindi, the minister wrote: 'धन, समृद्धि और आरोग्य के मंगलमय पर्व धनतेरस की आप सभी को हार्दिक बधाई एवं शुभकामनाएँ' — wishing everyone on the auspicious festival of wealth, prosperity, and good health. He added a prayer that the grace of Lord Dhanvantari and Goddess Lakshmi may bring lasting good health, joy, and well-being to every household.
Who is Dhanvantari — and why Dhanteras carries a twin blessing
Dhanteras, observed two days before Diwali, is rooted in a dual tradition: the worship of Goddess Lakshmi, the deity of wealth, and Lord Dhanvantari, the divine physician of Ayurveda who is believed to have emerged from the cosmic ocean bearing a pot of nectar. The festival's name combines dhan (wealth) and teras (the thirteenth lunar day). It is one of the most commercially and spiritually significant evenings in the Hindu calendar.
Paswan's greeting explicitly pairs both themes — economic prosperity and bodily health — reflecting the festival's layered symbolism rather than treating it as purely a shopping occasion.
Paswan's seasonal greetings and his party's cultural outreach
Chirag Paswan, who also serves as the national president of the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), is among the most visible second-generation leaders in the National Democratic Alliance. Festival greetings from cabinet ministers have become a consistent feature of Indian political communication — a low-friction way to maintain cultural proximity with constituents during major Hindu observances. The Diwali-Dhanteras window typically sees a cascade of such messages from across the political spectrum.
What sets Paswan's post apart is its explicit invocation of Dhanvantari — the health deity — alongside Lakshmi, a nod that sits naturally alongside his ministerial portfolio, which covers food safety and nutrition for Indian households.
Point of View
But Paswan's explicit pairing of Dhanvantari — the health deity — with Lakshmi is a subtle alignment of cultural messaging with his food-processing and nutrition portfolio. As a second-generation NDA leader heading the LJP (Ram Vilas), Paswan consistently uses cultural moments to maintain a warm, accessible public persona. During the Diwali window, such messaging reinforces voter-community bonds ahead of election cycles without requiring policy commitments.
NationPress
6 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Chirag Paswan post Dhanteras wishes?
As a senior cabinet minister and party president, Chirag Paswan regularly extends greetings on major Hindu festivals to connect with constituents and maintain cultural visibility during the Diwali season.
What is Dhanteras and when is it celebrated?
Dhanteras is a Hindu festival observed on the thirteenth lunar day of the dark fortnight in Kartik, two days before Diwali. It honours Lord Dhanvantari and Goddess Lakshmi, symbolising health and wealth.
Who is Lord Dhanvantari?
Lord Dhanvantari is the divine physician in Hindu tradition and the deity of Ayurveda, believed to have appeared from the cosmic ocean during the churning of the seas carrying the nectar of immortality.
What is Chirag Paswan's current role in the government?
Chirag Paswan serves as the Union Minister of Food Processing Industries in the Government of India and is the national president of the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas).
What does LJP (Ram Vilas) stand for?
LJP (Ram Vilas) refers to the Lok Janshakti Party led by Chirag Paswan, named after his father Ram Vilas Paswan. It is a constituent party of the National Democratic Alliance.
