CM Fadnavis Greets RSS Volunteers on Foundation Day
Synopsis
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis greeted RSS volunteers on the organisation's Foundation Day, observed annually on Vijaya Dashami. The RSS was founded by K.B. Hedgewar on 27 September 1925 in Nagpur. Fadnavis posted warm wishes in both English and Marathi, reflecting the established BJP–RSS organisational relationship.
Key Takeaways
Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis extended greetings to RSS volunteers on Foundation Day, 20 October 2026 (Vijaya Dashami) .
The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh was founded on 27 September 1925 by Dr K.B.
Hedgewar in Nagpur, Maharashtra .
The RSS marks its Foundation Day every year on Vijaya Dashami , the date of its original founding.
Fadnavis posted in both English and Marathi , addressing SwayamSevaks and Sevikas across the state.
The greeting reflects the longstanding ideological and organisational relationship between the BJP and RSS .
A century-old organisation rooted in the ideal of selfless national service marks another year — and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis was among the first to extend wishes to its volunteers. On Vijaya Dashami, 20 October 2026, Fadnavis greeted the dedicated SwayamSevaks and Sevikas of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh on its Foundation Day, saluting those who, in his words, 'devote themselves wholeheartedly to the service of the nation.'
Posting in both English and Marathi, Fadnavis wrote: 'स्वतःला राष्ट्रकार्यात झोकून देणाऱ्या सर्व कर्तव्यनिष्ठ स्वयंसेवकांना राष्ट्रीय स्वयंसेवक संघ स्थापना दिनाच्या मनःपूर्वक शुभेच्छा!' — 'Heartfelt wishes to all dutiful volunteers who dedicate themselves to national service on RSS Foundation Day!'
A founding moment: Hedgewar's 1925 vision on Vijaya Dashami
The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh was established on 27 September 1925 by Dr K.B. Hedgewar in Nagpur, Maharashtra — on Vijaya Dashami, the day that has since become the organisation's annual Foundation Day. The choice of date was deliberate: Vijaya Dashami, the festival of victory over evil, anchors the RSS calendar and gives its anniversary a symbolic weight that no other date could carry.
Every year, RSS units across the country hold formal gatherings — shakas, route marches, and addresses by senior pracharaks — to mark the occasion. Maharashtra, as the birthplace of the organisation, sits at the centre of those observances.
BJP–RSS ties and why this greeting matters politically
For BJP leaders, a public greeting on RSS Foundation Day is as routine as it is meaningful — a visible affirmation of the ideological and organisational bond that has defined the party since its founding. As Maharashtra's Chief Minister and a senior BJP figure, Fadnavis's message lands with particular resonance in the state where the RSS was born. It signals continuity of relationship at the highest level of state government, and it speaks directly to the lakhs of RSS volunteers active across Maharashtra's districts.
The wider BJP leadership is expected to echo similar greetings across platforms, making Vijaya Dashami one of the most publicly observed occasions on the party's political calendar. Fadnavis, posting early in the morning, set the tone for the day in Maharashtra.Point of View
A Vijaya Dashami greeting to the Sangh carries both symbolic and political weight — it is a public reaffirmation of ideological lineage, not merely protocol. Fadnavis posting early in the morning, before most official functions begin, underscores how central the BJP–RSS relationship is to his political identity. In Maharashtra, where the RSS has a dense organisational network, such gestures also function as a signal of administrative goodwill to a volunteer base that spans every district. The routine nature of these greetings across BJP leadership does not diminish their significance; collectively, they map the organisational geography of India's ruling party.
NationPress
20 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
When was the RSS founded and by whom?
The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh was founded on 27 September 1925 by Dr K.B. Hedgewar in Nagpur, Maharashtra .
Why is RSS Foundation Day celebrated on Vijaya Dashami?
The RSS was established on Vijaya Dashami in 1925, and the organisation has since marked its Foundation Day on the same festival every year, giving the anniversary a symbolic connection to the theme of victory and righteousness.
What did CM Devendra Fadnavis say on RSS Foundation Day 2026?
Fadnavis extended 'warm wishes to all dedicated SwayamSevaks and Sevikas who devote themselves wholeheartedly to the service of the nation,' posting in both English and Marathi on X.
What is the relationship between the BJP and the RSS?
The BJP and RSS share a longstanding ideological and organisational relationship; BJP leaders routinely participate in or publicly acknowledge key RSS occasions, including Foundation Day.
What activities does the RSS hold on Vijaya Dashami?
RSS units across India typically hold formal gatherings, shakas, route marches, and addresses by senior pracharaks on Vijaya Dashami to mark the Foundation Day.
