CM Fadnavis joins Navratri Dandiya celebrations in Thane

Key Takeaways

CM Devendra Fadnavis visited the Sankalp Pratishthan Navratri Utsav 2026 dandiya festival in Thane on 16 October 2026 .

The event was organised by Thane MLA Ravindra Phatak under the Sankalp Pratishthan banner.

The venue was Sai Chambers, Thane , in the Mumbai metropolitan area.

Fadnavis offered prayers to Goddess Amba and sought blessings for 'the happiness, peace, and well-being of all'.

The visit reflects Maharashtra BJP leaders' regular participation in Navratri and community festival events across the state.

The beats of the dandiya filled Sai Chambers, Thane on the evening of 16 October 2026, as Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis stepped in to join the Sankalp Pratishthan Navratri Utsav 2026 — a dandiya festival organised by MLA Ravindra Phatak — to offer prayers and seek the blessings of Goddess Amba.

Posting from the venue, CM Fadnavis opened with 'Ambe Mata ki... Jai..!' — 'Victory to Mother Amba!' — and described the visit as an occasion to pray for 'the happiness, peace, and well-being of all'. The gesture placed the state's top executive squarely at the heart of one of Maharashtra's most-loved community festivals.

Phatak's Sankalp Pratishthan brings Thane together

Ravindra Phatak, the MLA representing a Thane constituency, organised the event under the banner of Sankalp Pratishthan. Thane — a sprawling city in the Mumbai metropolitan region — is known for its large-scale Navratri festivities, with neighbourhood associations and political platforms alike hosting dandiya nights that draw thousands of residents. Events like this serve as a convergence point for cultural celebration and community bonding during the nine-night festival.

Navratri in Maharashtra: faith, colour, and political presence

Navratri, the annual festival dedicated to the nine forms of Goddess Durga, brings Maharashtra alive every October with garba, dandiya, and devotional rituals across cities and towns. For BJP leaders in particular, participation in these celebrations is a consistent feature of the festival calendar — an opportunity to be seen alongside constituents in a space defined by shared faith rather than political contestation. CM Fadnavis's presence at a Thane MLA's event also signals solidarity within the party's Maharashtra unit during a season of high public visibility.

With Navratri's remaining nights still to unfold, Thane's cultural programme calendar stays packed — and the Chief Minister's blessing-seeking visit sets a warm tone for the celebrations ahead.

Point of View

The CM anchors himself in a space of shared faith that transcends overt political messaging. Thane — a key urban stronghold in the Mumbai metro region — remains strategically significant for the party, making Phatak's event a natural stop for the state's top leader. The visit reinforces the BJP's broader pattern of high-visibility religious engagements as a tool for grassroots connect ahead of any electoral cycle.

NationPress

17 Oct 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

Where did CM Fadnavis attend Navratri celebrations in 2026?

CM Devendra Fadnavis attended the Sankalp Pratishthan Navratri Utsav 2026 dandiya festival at Sai Chambers, Thane, on 16 October 2026.

Who organised the Navratri dandiya event in Thane that Fadnavis visited?

The event was organised by Thane MLA Ravindra Phatak under the banner of Sankalp Pratishthan.

What did CM Fadnavis pray for at the Navratri event?

CM Fadnavis prayed to Goddess Amba for the happiness, peace, and well-being of all people.

What is Navratri and when is it celebrated?

Navratri is a nine-night Hindu festival dedicated to the worship of Goddess Durga and her forms, celebrated annually in the autumn month of October across India.

Who is Ravindra Phatak?

Ravindra Phatak is a Member of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly representing a Thane constituency.