CM Bhajan Lal Joins Shri Ram Katha in Jodhpur for Navratri
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
As the nine sacred nights of Sharadiya Navratri 2026 fill Rajasthan with devotional fervour, Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma shared a live broadcast of the Shri Ram Katha organised in Jodhpur on Saturday, 17 October 2026, extending the celebrations beyond the venue to devotees across the state and beyond.
The post, shared in Hindi, reads: 'Sharadiya Navratri par aayojit Shri Ram Katha, Jodhpur' — 'Shri Ram Katha organised on the occasion of Sharadiya Navratri, Jodhpur' — accompanied by a live-stream link, placing the CM's office at the centre of a cherished public devotional tradition.
Ram Katha and Navratri: A Living Tradition in Rajasthan
Sharadiya Navratri, the autumn edition of the nine-night festival dedicated to Goddess Durga, is among the most widely observed Hindu festivals in Rajasthan. Ram Katha — the devotional narration of Lord Ram's life and virtues — is a long-standing companion event to Navratri celebrations across the state, drawing large congregations of devotees who gather for spiritual discourse over several days.
Jodhpur, the 'Blue City' of western Rajasthan, carries deep historical and cultural weight as a centre of Rajput heritage and religious observance. Hosting a Ram Katha here during Navratri is consistent with the city's tradition of grand public religious events that attract devotees from across the region.
A Chief Minister on the Cultural Calendar
State chief ministers across India routinely participate in or amplify major religious and cultural events — and CM Sharma, who has led Rajasthan since December 2023, has kept up active engagement with the state's devotional calendar. By sharing the live link, his office ensured that those unable to attend in Jodhpur could join the katha digitally — a small but telling detail about how public religious events now extend their reach.
For the BJP, visibility at such events is standard political and cultural practice, aligning governance with the devotional life of constituents during peak festival season.
As Navratri continues, the Rajasthan government is expected to remain active in announcing and promoting further cultural and religious programmes across the state — keeping the festive momentum alive well through the final day of the nine-night celebration.