Chirag Paswan performs Kanya Pujan on Navratri
Synopsis
Union Food Processing Minister Chirag Paswan performed Kanya Pujan during Sharadiya Navratri on 18 October 2026, sharing images of the ritual on X and seeking the blessings of Maa Bhagwati on the auspicious occasion.
Key Takeaways
Chirag Paswan performed Kanya Pujan on 18 October 2026 as part of Sharadiya Navratri observances.
Sharadiya Navratri is a nine-day Hindu autumn festival honouring the nine forms of Goddess Durga .
Kanya Pujan involves worshipping young girls as living embodiments of the goddess and is a central Navratri ritual.
Paswan shared four images from the ritual on X, accompanied by a message in Hindi.
The post reflects personal cultural observance and carries no policy or parliamentary dimension.
On the auspicious occasion of Sharadiya Navratri, Union Food Processing Minister Chirag Paswan performed Kanya Pujan — the sacred ritual of worshipping young girls as living embodiments of the goddess — seeking the blessings of Maa Bhagwati on Sunday, 18 October 2026.
Paswan shared the occasion on X, writing: 'Maa Durga ke nau swarupon ki aradhana ke pawan parv Sharadiya Navratri mein aaj Kanya Pujan kar Maa Bhagwati ka aashirvaad prapt kiya' — 'On the sacred festival of Sharadiya Navratri, devoted to the nine forms of Maa Durga, I performed Kanya Pujan today and received the blessings of Maa Bhagwati.' The post was accompanied by four images from the ritual.
Nine forms, one festival: what Navratri means
Sharadiya Navratri is the nine-day autumn festival observed across India in honour of the nine divine forms of Goddess Durga — from Shailputri on the first day to Siddhidatri on the ninth. It is one of the most widely observed Hindu festivals, marking the victory of the divine feminine over darkness.
Kanya Pujan, typically performed on the eighth or ninth day, involves welcoming young girls into the home, washing their feet, offering them food, and seeking their blessings as earthly manifestations of the goddess. It is a deeply personal act of devotion central to the Navratri tradition for millions of Hindu households.
A minister's moment of personal observance
Chirag Paswan, who heads the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) and serves as a Union Cabinet minister in the National Democratic Alliance government, is among the many public figures who have shared their Navratri observances on social media this season. For Indian political leaders, participation in major Hindu festivals is both a cultural reality and a visible signal of community connection.
The post carries no policy announcement and requires none — it is a moment of faith, shared publicly, on one of Hinduism's most revered festival days.
Point of View
Blending personal faith with public visibility. For Chirag Paswan, whose Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) draws its base from Bihar — a state where Navratri commands deep cultural resonance — such posts serve as authentic community touchpoints rather than calculated optics. The ritual of Kanya Pujan in particular carries symbolic weight, centring the divine feminine at a time when such imagery holds broad cross-caste appeal. It is cultural participation on the public record, with no policy edge.
NationPress
18 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Kanya Pujan and why is it performed during Navratri?
Kanya Pujan is a ritual performed during Navratri — typically on the eighth or ninth day — in which young girls are worshipped as earthly manifestations of Goddess Durga. Devotees wash the girls' feet, offer them food and gifts, and seek their blessings as a form of divine grace.
What did Chirag Paswan post about Navratri 2026?
On 18 October 2026, Chirag Paswan posted on X that he performed Kanya Pujan during Sharadiya Navratri and received the blessings of Maa Bhagwati. He shared four images from the occasion.
What is Sharadiya Navratri?
Sharadiya Navratri is the nine-day autumn Hindu festival dedicated to the nine forms of Goddess Durga. It is one of India's most widely observed religious festivals, culminating in Dussehra.
Who is Chirag Paswan?
Chirag Paswan is India's Union Minister of Food Processing Industries and the national president of the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), a constituent party of the National Democratic Alliance.
What are the nine forms of Goddess Durga worshipped during Navratri?
The nine forms — called Navadurga — are Shailputri, Brahmacharini, Chandraghanta, Kushmanda, Skandamata, Katyayani, Kalaratri, Mahagauri, and Siddhidatri, each venerated on a separate day of the festival.
