CM Fadnavis extends Chhath Puja greetings to Maharashtra
Synopsis
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis extended Chhath Puja greetings on November 15, 2026, honouring the festival's spirit of solar reverence and gratitude toward nature, and acknowledging the large Chhath-observing community across Maharashtra.
Key Takeaways
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis posted Chhath Puja greetings on Sunday, November 15, 2026 .
His message was bilingual — English and Hindi — and included the Sanskrit salutation ॐ सूर्याय नमः .
He described Chhath Puja as a festival awakening gratitude toward nature and devotion toward solar energy.
Chhath Puja is widely observed by migrant communities from Bihar, Jharkhand, and eastern UP living in Mumbai, Pune, and Nashik .
The post was tagged #ChhathPuja and #Maharashtra , signalling an inclusive outreach to the state's diverse population.
The Sun God's first rays carry a political salute this year. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis extended warm greetings to devotees on the occasion of Chhath Puja on Sunday, November 15, 2026, invoking the festival's twin spirit of gratitude toward nature and reverence for solar energy.
Posting in both English and Hindi on X, Fadnavis wrote: 'May this sacred festival of worshiping the Sun God bring happiness, peace, and prosperity to everyone,' before adding the Sanskrit salutation ॐ सूर्याय नमः ('Om, salutations to the Sun'). He described Chhath Puja as a festival that awakens gratitude toward nature and devotion toward the energy of the Sun — 'प्रकृति के प्रति कृतज्ञता, सूर्य की ऊर्जा के प्रति श्रद्धा का भाव जागृत करनेवाला पर्व' — closing with the devotional cry 'छठी मैया की जय' ('Victory to Chhathi Maiya').
A festival beyond its heartland
Chhath Puja is among the most demanding and devout festivals in the Hindu calendar — a four-day observance centred on the worship of Surya, the Sun God, and his consort Usha. Devotees observe strict fasts, stand in rivers or water bodies at dawn and dusk, and offer arghya (water and food offerings) to the rising and setting sun. The festival is rooted most deeply in Bihar, Jharkhand, and eastern Uttar Pradesh, but large diaspora communities across Maharashtra — particularly in Mumbai, Pune, and Nashik — observe it with equal fervour.
For a chief minister governing one of India's most ethnically and culturally diverse states, acknowledging Chhath Puja is both culturally resonant and politically deliberate. State leaders across the country routinely issue such greetings to reflect the full spectrum of communities under their watch.
Fadnavis's message, tagged #ChhathPuja and #Maharashtra, arrives as thousands of devotees across the state head to riverbanks and water bodies for the evening arghya ritual — one of the festival's most visually striking moments, the setting sun framed by rows of offering-laden bamboo baskets and earthen lamps.
When a state's leaders pause to honour traditions carried hundreds of kilometres from their place of origin, the festival becomes something more than ritual — it becomes belonging.
Point of View
Particularly in constituencies around Mumbai and Thane. Such gestures, while ceremonial, are part of a longer arc of inclusive symbolism that complements harder policy asks. The choice to post in both English and Hindi — rather than Marathi — further underscores who the primary audience for this message is.
NationPress
15 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Chhath Puja and why is it celebrated?
Chhath Puja is a four-day Hindu festival dedicated to the worship of Surya, the Sun God, and his consort Usha. Devotees observe strict fasts and offer prayers at sunrise and sunset near rivers or water bodies, expressing gratitude toward nature and solar energy.
Is Chhath Puja celebrated in Maharashtra?
Yes. Large communities from Bihar, Jharkhand, and eastern Uttar Pradesh settled in cities like Mumbai, Pune, and Nashik observe Chhath Puja with considerable devotion, often gathering at lakes and riverbanks for the rituals.
Why did CM Devendra Fadnavis post Chhath Puja greetings?
As Maharashtra's Chief Minister, Fadnavis extended greetings to acknowledge the state's diverse population, including the significant community of Chhath-observing residents originally from north and eastern India.
What did Devendra Fadnavis say about Chhath Puja?
Fadnavis said the festival 'awakens gratitude toward nature and devotion toward the energy of the Sun,' and wished everyone happiness, peace, and prosperity. He also posted the Sanskrit salutation ॐ सूर्याय नमः and the devotional phrase छठी मैया की जय .
When is Chhath Puja in 2026?
Chhath Puja in 2026 falls on November 15, with the key rituals of evening and morning arghya — offerings to the setting and rising Sun — marking the heart of the festival.
