CM Dhami Performs Mahanavami Havan, Honours Nine Girls
Synopsis
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami observed Mahanavami on 20 October 2026 with a Vedic havan and kanya pujan at his official residence, praying for the peace, progress, and prosperity of all Uttarakhand residents.
Key Takeaways
CM Pushkar Singh Dhami performed a havan and puja-archana at his official residence in Dehradun on Mahanavami, 20 October 2026 .
He conducted kanya pujan , honouring nine young girls as symbols of the nine forms of Maa Durga.
He prayed to Maa Bhagwati for the advancement of Uttarakhand and the well-being of all state residents.
CM Dhami described Navratri as a symbol of matrishakti worship and of Uttarakhand's rich cultural traditions.
He extended Mahanavami greetings to all people of the state.
On the auspicious occasion of Mahanavami — the ninth and final day of Sharadiya Navratri — Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami observed the festival with full religious ceremony at his official residence in Dehradun on Tuesday, 20 October 2026, offering prayers for the peace and prosperity of every resident of the state.
The Chief Minister performed a havan (sacred fire ritual) and puja-archana (devotional worship) following prescribed Vedic rites. In a moment that drew particular attention, he conducted kanya pujan — the ritual honouring of nine young girls as living symbols of the nine divine forms of Maa Durga — and sought their blessings.
A prayer for Uttarakhand's uplift
Offering his wishes to state residents, CM Dhami prayed to Maa Bhagwati for the advancement of the state and for the happiness, peace, prosperity, and well-being of all people of Uttarakhand. In his message, he underscored the festival's deeper meaning: 'Navratri is a symbol of the worship of matrishakti (feminine divine power) and of our rich cultural traditions.'
He added that kanya pujan — the ceremonial honouring of young girls — inspires reverence and respect towards matrishakti, reinforcing a tradition that places the girl child at the centre of devotion rather than at its margins.
Ritual as public outreach in Uttarakhand
Uttarakhand, a state defined by its Himalayan temple towns and deep-rooted Hindu traditions, has long been a prominent stage for such observances. The state government routinely communicates cultural continuity through visible ceremonial participation by its leadership, particularly during major festivals. Mahanavami, which marks the culmination of the nine-night Navratri cycle, carries special weight — it is considered the most powerful day of the festival, and kanya pujan on this day is a widely practised custom across northern India.
For CM Dhami, the ritual also doubled as a public message: that the state's administrative machinery is aligned with the cultural heartbeat of its people.
Point of View
Which centres the girl child as a sacred figure, also functions as soft messaging around gender dignity, a theme the Uttarakhand government has periodically invoked in public communications. No new policy was announced; the event's significance is cultural and symbolic.
NationPress
20 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Mahanavami and why is it significant?
Mahanavami is the ninth and final day of Sharadiya Navratri, considered the most powerful day of the nine-night festival honouring Goddess Durga. It is traditionally observed with havan, puja, and kanya pujan across northern India.
What is kanya pujan?
Kanya pujan is a Hindu ritual in which young girls — typically nine in number — are worshipped as living representations of the nine forms of Maa Durga. It is widely practised on Mahanavami and Ashtami during Navratri.
Where did CM Dhami perform the Mahanavami puja?
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami performed the havan and puja at his official residence in Dehradun, Uttarakhand, on 20 October 2026.
What did CM Dhami pray for on Mahanavami 2026?
CM Dhami prayed to Maa Bhagwati for the advancement of Uttarakhand and for the happiness, peace, prosperity, and well-being of all residents of the state.
What did CM Dhami say about Navratri and matrishakti?
CM Dhami said that Navratri is a symbol of the worship of matrishakti — the divine feminine — and of India's rich cultural traditions, and that kanya pujan inspires reverence and respect towards that power.
