CM Fadnavis extends Chhath Puja greetings to Maharashtra devotees
Synopsis
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis extended bilingual Chhath Puja greetings on November 15, 2026, honouring the Sun God festival observed by large eastern-Indian migrant communities across Maharashtra's cities.
Key Takeaways
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis posted Chhath Puja greetings on November 15, 2026 .
His message was bilingual — in English and Hindi — wishing happiness and prosperity to all observing devotees.
Chhath Puja originates in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand but is widely observed by migrant communities in Mumbai, Pune and Nagpur .
The festival involves rigorous multi-day fasting and sunrise/sunset water offerings to the Sun God.
The CM's outreach reflects the electoral and cultural significance of eastern-Indian diaspora communities in Maharashtra.
The chants of Om Suryaya Namah echoed across Maharashtra's ghats and riverbanks on Sunday as Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis extended warm wishes to all those observing Chhath Puja — the ancient festival of faith, fasting, and devotion to the Sun God.
Posting on Sunday, November 15, 2026, Fadnavis wrote in both English and Hindi: 'Heartiest greetings to all devotees observing the Chhath Puja. May this sacred festival of faith and devotion bring happiness and prosperity to all.' In Hindi, he extended heartfelt wishes — haardhik shubhkamnaayen — to 'all mothers, sisters and brothers' observing the Chhath fast, signing off with the salutation Chhathi Maiya ki jai — 'Hail Chhathi Maiya.'
A festival of eastern India, celebrated at Maharashtra's heart
Chhath Puja is among the most demanding and devout observances in the Hindu calendar — a multi-day ritual of rigorous fasting, standing in water, and offering arghya (water offerings) to the rising and setting sun. It draws its deepest roots from Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Jharkhand, but decades of migration to Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, and other Maharashtra cities have planted the festival firmly in Maharashtra's cultural landscape. The state's large migrant communities from eastern India bring their traditions with them, transforming urban lakesides and riverbanks into vibrant festival grounds every year. For these communities, the CM's public acknowledgement carries real weight — a signal from the state's highest office that their traditions belong here too.Why chief ministers send these greetings — and why it matters
Public festival greetings from state leaders are a fixture of Indian political culture, but they are not purely ceremonial. For a BJP chief minister in Maharashtra, acknowledging Chhath Puja is also an act of outreach toward the state's substantial eastern-Indian diaspora — communities that are electorally significant in several urban and peri-urban constituencies. Fadnavis's bilingual message, using both English and idiomatic Hindi, signals an inclusive intent that reaches beyond the state's dominant Marathi-speaking base. With Maharashtra's diverse population continuing to grow, the Maharashtra government's approach to festival infrastructure — ghats, lighting, security, public transport — during Chhath season is increasingly watched as a measure of the state's commitment to its migrant communities.Point of View
Their festivals increasingly appear on the state's official calendar. This kind of symbolic acknowledgement costs little but signals that the state government sees migrant communities as constituents, not outsiders. It also sits within a broader BJP pattern of building cross-regional appeal by honouring culturally distinct festivals that resonate with voter blocs outside the party's traditional base.
NationPress
15 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Chhath Puja and why is it celebrated?
Chhath Puja is an ancient Hindu festival dedicated to the Sun God, involving multi-day fasting, ritual bathing, and water offerings at sunrise and sunset. It is primarily observed by communities from Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Jharkhand as a celebration of gratitude for life and prosperity.
Why did CM Fadnavis post Chhath Puja greetings?
As Maharashtra's Chief Minister, Devendra Fadnavis extended greetings to acknowledge the large eastern-Indian migrant communities across the state who observe Chhath Puja, reflecting both cultural inclusivity and political outreach.
Is Chhath Puja celebrated in Maharashtra?
Yes. Significant migrant populations from Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Jharkhand living in cities like Mumbai, Pune, and Nagpur observe Chhath Puja, transforming urban riverbanks and lakes into festival sites each year.
What did Devendra Fadnavis say for Chhath Puja 2026?
Fadnavis wrote: 'Heartiest greetings to all devotees observing the Chhath Puja. May this sacred festival of faith and devotion bring happiness and prosperity to all,' adding a Hindi salutation honouring Chhathi Maiya.
When is Chhath Puja observed?
Chhath Puja falls in the Hindu month of Kartik, typically in October or November each year. In 2026, Chief Minister Fadnavis posted his greetings on November 15.
