CM Dhami greets Uttarakhand on Vijayadashami at Dehradun
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Truth over ego, duty over desire — Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami invoked the timeless message of Vijayadashami on Tuesday, 20 October 2026, joining citizens at the grand Dussehra Mahotsav held at Parade Ground, Dehradun, and extending heartfelt wishes to every resident of the state.
Sharing his greetings, CM Dhami wrote: 'विजयादशमी का पावन पर्व हमें संदेश देता है कि सत्य की सदैव विजय होती है और अहंकार एवं अधर्म का अंत निश्चित है' — ('The sacred festival of Vijayadashami gives us the message that truth always triumphs and the end of arrogance and unrighteousness is certain'). He also called on citizens to draw inspiration from the ideal life of Lord Shri Ram — a life of dedication to duty, restraint, sacrifice, and a spirit of service.
Parade Ground as Uttarakhand's Dussehra centrepiece
Dehradun's Parade Ground is the traditional heart of the state capital's Dussehra celebrations, drawing large crowds for processions, cultural performances, and the symbolic burning of Ravana's effigy. Chief ministers of Uttarakhand have long made a public appearance at the venue — not just as a ceremonial gesture but as a visible affirmation of cultural continuity. For Dhami, who has held the chief ministerial post since 2021, such participation is also a regular feature of his public calendar.
The BJP's cultural engagement playbook in Uttarakhand
State leaders from the BJP across India have made active, on-ground presence at major Hindu festivals a consistent part of their governance identity, and Uttarakhand — a state that sees itself as a seat of Hindu pilgrimage and cultural heritage — is no exception. Dhami's message weaved together the festival's mythological significance with a civic call to action: that Lord Ram's model of maryada (righteous conduct) should guide personal and public life alike. It is a framing that resonates strongly in a state where temples, yatras, and festivals form the social fabric.
With Diwali and several local Uttarakhand melas on the horizon, Tuesday's gathering at Parade Ground marks the first of a series of high-profile public festivals the state government is expected to engage with in the weeks ahead. The season of light follows close on the heels of the season of victory.