CM Fadnavis joins Navratri Raas Dandiya fest in Kandivali
Synopsis
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis visited the Ramzhat Akurli Navratri Raas Dandiya Mahotsav 2026 in Kandivali, Mumbai, on 19 October, performing puja and praying for the state's prosperity during the Navratri festival.
Key Takeaways
CM Devendra Fadnavis attended the Ramzhat Akurli Navratri Raas Dandiya Mahotsav 2026 in Kandivali, Mumbai on 19 October 2026 .
The event was organised by the Akurli Seva Foundation , a community cultural body in Mumbai's western suburbs.
Fadnavis performed puja-archana of Goddess Durga and prayed for the prosperity ( samriddhi ) of Maharashtra's citizens.
He opened his post with a Sanskrit shloka invoking Devi Durga's protection from all fears.
Navratri is one of Maharashtra's most widely celebrated annual festivals, marked by garba and dandiya events across Mumbai.
On the auspicious nights of Navratri 2026, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis stepped into the festive spirit of Kandivali, Mumbai, attending the grand Ramzhat Akurli Navratri Raas Dandiya Mahotsav 2026 organised by the Akurli Seva Foundation — offering prayers to Goddess Durga and seeking her blessings for the people of the state.
Fadnavis opened his post with the Sanskrit shloka: 'सर्वस्वरूपे सर्वेशे सर्वशक्तिसमन्विते। भयेभ्यस्त्राहि नो देवी दुर्गे देवी नमोऽस्तुते॥' — ('O Goddess, who is the embodiment of all forms, the ruler of all, endowed with all powers — protect us from all fears, O Devi Durga, we bow to you.') A fitting invocation for a chief minister seeking divine sanction for his state's prosperity.
Prayers for Maharashtra's prosperity at Akurli's Dandiya night
At the Kandivali event on the evening of Monday, 19 October 2026, Fadnavis participated in puja-archana (ritual worship) of the Goddess and publicly conveyed his prayers for the samriddhi — prosperity — of Maharashtra's citizens. The grand dandiya festival, a mainstay of Mumbai's Navratri season, drew crowds of devotees from across the city's western suburbs.
Navratri, the nine-night Hindu festival dedicated to Goddess Durga, is one of Maharashtra's most vibrant annual celebrations. In Mumbai especially, community organisations fill open grounds with the rhythmic clatter of dandiya sticks and the swirl of garba circles — a tradition that bridges neighbourhoods and generations alike.
Why CM visits like these matter in Maharashtra's festive calendar
Chief ministers across Indian states have long made Navratri appearances a fixture of the autumn calendar — and Maharashtra is no exception. For a leader like Fadnavis, who holds both the chief ministership and a senior position in the BJP, presence at a community-organised festival in a Mumbai suburb serves as direct citizen engagement beyond the formality of official events. The western suburbs of Mumbai, home to dense residential pockets and active cultural associations, represent a key constituency audience during the festive season.
The crowd, the marigolds, the dandiya beats — this is governance worn lightly, showing up where the people already are.
Point of View
Diverse, and electorally significant, making community festival attendance a low-key but deliberate outreach tool. The public prayer for state prosperity layers a governance message onto a religious moment, a soft-power technique Indian chief ministers have refined over decades. No direct policy shift flows from this visit, but the optics of a sitting CM amid citizens on a festive night carry their own quiet currency.
NationPress
20 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Where did CM Devendra Fadnavis attend Navratri 2026 celebrations?
CM Fadnavis attended the Ramzhat Akurli Navratri Raas Dandiya Mahotsav 2026 at Kandivali, Mumbai, organised by the Akurli Seva Foundation.
What did Fadnavis do at the Navratri event in Kandivali?
He offered prayers and performed puja-archana of Goddess Durga, and prayed for the prosperity of Maharashtra's people.
What is the Akurli Seva Foundation?
The Akurli Seva Foundation is a community organisation based in Kandivali, Mumbai, that organises cultural and religious events including the annual Navratri Raas Dandiya festival.
What shloka did Fadnavis share for Navratri 2026?
He shared the Sanskrit shloka beginning 'Sarvaswarupe Sarvashe Sarvashaktisamanvite', invoking Goddess Durga to protect devotees from all fears.
Why do Maharashtra chief ministers attend Navratri events?
Attending Navratri celebrations is a longstanding practice for Maharashtra's leaders to engage directly with citizens during one of the state's most popular annual festivals.
