CM Fadnavis attends 'Praudh Pratap Purandar' in Sambhajinagar
Synopsis
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis attended the historical epic drama 'Praudh Pratap Purandar' in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar on 1 November 2026. Ministers, legislators, a parliamentarian, and Sant-Mahants joined him at the large-scale mahanatya celebrating Maratha heritage.
Key Takeaways
CM Devendra Fadnavis was the chief guest at the historical epic drama 'Praudh Pratap Purandar' on 1 November 2026 .
The event was held in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar , the city renamed from Aurangabad in 2023 to honour Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj.
Senior political figures present included Ministers Atul Save and Sanjay Shirsat , MP Sandipan Bhumare , and three sitting MLAs.
Sant-Mahants — religious leaders — attended alongside elected officials, reflecting the event's broad civic significance.
The production belongs to Maharashtra's mahanatya tradition — large-scale theatrical retellings of Maratha history.
The attendance follows a consistent pattern of Maharashtra government support for events celebrating Maratha heritage and fort culture.
Maharashtra's rich Maratha legacy took centre stage on Sunday evening when Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis graced the historical epic drama 'Praudh Pratap Purandar' in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar — a city whose very name is an act of cultural reclamation. The event drew a significant cross-section of the state's political and spiritual leadership at 6:30 PM on 1 November 2026.
The Chief Minister's Office confirmed his presence as the chief guest (प्रमुख उपस्थिती) at the mahanatya — a large-scale theatrical form rooted in Maharashtra's performative tradition of bringing history alive on stage. Seated alongside him were Minister Atul Save, Minister Sanjay Shirsat, Member of Parliament Sandipan Bhumare, MLC Suhas Shirsath, MLA Narayan Kuche, MLA Anuradha Chavan, and a gathering of Sant-Mahants — religious leaders whose presence signals the event's reach beyond the purely political.
'Purandar' on stage: why this fort's name carries weight
The title Praudh Pratap Purandar — roughly, 'the mature valour of Purandar' — invokes the fort of Purandar, a site of decisive Maratha history. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's encounters with Mughal forces near Purandar remain central to Maharashtra's sense of identity. A mahanatya built around this legacy is not merely entertainment; it is a retelling of a founding myth, performed in a city that was itself renamed in 2023 to honour Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, Shivaji's eldest son. The setting amplifies the message.A pattern of state patronage for Maratha heritage
Fadnavis's attendance fits a consistent pattern. Maharashtra governments — across administrations — have periodically backed events, theatre productions, and festivals that foreground Maratha history and fort culture. For the ruling dispensation, visible support for such programming speaks to a dual audience: history enthusiasts who fill auditoriums, and a broader electorate for whom Maratha pride is not a cultural preference but a lived identity. The gathering of ministers, legislators, a parliamentarian, and religious figures at a single cultural event also underlines how mahanatya performances in Maharashtra occupy a unique civic space — part heritage festival, part political congregation, part community ritual. For Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, hosting a state-level cultural event of this scale reinforces its emerging profile as a hub for Maharashtra's historical and heritage programming — a role the city has been building since its renaming drew national attention three years ago.Point of View
And the CM's attendance reinforces that signal. The gathering of ministers, MLAs, an MP, and religious leaders at a single cultural event reflects how Maharashtra's ruling establishment uses heritage programming as a form of soft political consolidation. Over the longer arc, consistent state patronage of such productions shapes the public narrative around Maratha history and governance continuity. The event also adds to Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar's growing profile as a preferred venue for high-visibility heritage programming.
NationPress
2 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is 'Praudh Pratap Purandar'?
'Praudh Pratap Purandar' is a historical epic drama, or mahanatya, staged in Maharashtra that draws on the legacy of the Purandar fort and Maratha history. Maharashtra has a strong tradition of such large-scale theatrical productions celebrating regional heritage.
Why did CM Devendra Fadnavis attend the event?
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis attended as the chief guest of the mahanatya held in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar on 1 November 2026. His office confirmed his presence alongside ministers, legislators, and Sant-Mahants.
Where is Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and why is it significant?
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar is a major city in Maharashtra, formerly known as Aurangabad, renamed in 2023 to honour Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, the son of Shivaji Maharaj. It has since become a focal point for Maratha heritage events.
Who else attended the 'Praudh Pratap Purandar' event?
Minister Atul Save, Minister Sanjay Shirsat, MP Sandipan Bhumare, MLC Suhas Shirsath, MLA Narayan Kuche, MLA Anuradha Chavan, and several Sant-Mahants and dignitaries were present at the event.
Does the Maharashtra government regularly support Maratha heritage cultural events?
Yes. Maharashtra governments across administrations have periodically backed theatrical productions, heritage festivals, and events that highlight Maratha history and fort culture as part of broader regional identity promotion.
