CM Fadnavis Performs Anant Chaturdashi Aarti at Varsha
Synopsis
Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis concluded eleven days of Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations at his official Varsha residence on Anant Chaturdashi, performing the family aarti and praying for the welfare and happiness of every household in the state.
Key Takeaways
CM Devendra Fadnavis performed the Anant Chaturdashi aarti at Varsha , his official Mumbai residence, on 25 September 2026 .
The celebration spanned the full eleven days of the Ganesh Chaturthi festival with family present throughout.
He opened his post with the Sanskrit shloka Vighneswaraya Varadaya Surapriyaya... , a traditional invocation to Lord Ganesha.
His stated prayers: removal of all public hardships, happiness in every home, and an early return of Bappa next year.
The tradition of the sitting Maharashtra Chief Minister observing the festival at Varsha has been upheld by leaders across parties.
Large-scale visarjan processions across Mumbai and the state mark the close of #GaneshVisarjan on Anant Chaturdashi.
Eleven days of devotion came full circle on Friday, 25 September 2026, as Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis performed the concluding aarti for Ganesh Chaturthi at his official residence, Varsha, surrounded by family — and prayed that every household in the state be freed from worry and filled with peace.
In a Marathi post on X, CM Fadnavis opened with the Sanskrit shloka 'Vighneswaraya Varadaya Surapriyaya...' — a traditional invocation to Lord Ganesha as remover of obstacles and bestower of boons — before reflecting on the eleven days spent in the deity's presence. 'The days spent in Bappa's company were filled with joy, devotion and positive energy,' he wrote. 'We did not even realise how they passed.'
The prayer from Varsha to every home in Maharashtra
At the feet of Ganaraya, Fadnavis said he had prayed for three things: that all worries and obstacles be removed from people's lives; that happiness, contentment and joy reign in every home; and that Bappa return early next year in an atmosphere of celebration. The post was tagged #GaneshVisarjan and #GanpatiBappaMorya, the rallying cry that marks the immersion day across Maharashtra.
A ritual as old as the Chief Minister's office itself
The tradition of Maharashtra's sitting Chief Minister publicly observing Ganesh Chaturthi at Varsha has been maintained by leaders across party lines — a quiet acknowledgment that in this state, the eleven-day festival is not merely religious but fundamentally civic. Fadnavis, a senior BJP leader who has held the Chief Minister's post across multiple terms since 2014, has made the household celebration at Varsha a consistent feature of his tenure. The festival draws millions of participants statewide, culminating in large-scale visarjan processions on Anant Chaturdashi in Mumbai and across the state's major cities.
As the immersion processions roll through the streets, the scale of environmental compliance — particularly around the use of eco-friendly idols and natural water bodies — remains the immediate operational focus for civic authorities this evening.
Bappa bid farewell for now, but the CM's message is unmistakable: next year, come back sooner.
Point of View
Participating in Ganesh Chaturthi is less a personal choice than a political and cultural obligation — the festival is the state's most powerful civic ritual, and a visible, emotional presence signals alignment with millions of devotees simultaneously. Fadnavis's public post combines the personal (family aarti at home) with the governmental (prayer for public welfare), a framing designed to collapse the distance between the office and the household. Across his multiple tenures, this consistent observance at Varsha reinforces his image as culturally rooted in Maharashtra's identity — a useful anchor for a BJP leader in a state where the Shiv Sena tradition long dominated festival politics. The closing prayer for Bappa to 'return early next year' is conventional but pointed: it keeps the CM's name in the devotional conversation well past the immersion day.
NationPress
25 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Anant Chaturdashi and why is it significant?
Anant Chaturdashi is the fourteenth day of the Hindu lunar month of Bhadrapada and marks the conclusion of the eleven-day Ganesh Chaturthi festival with the ceremonial immersion (visarjan) of Ganesh idols. It is one of the largest single-day processions in Maharashtra.
Where is Varsha, the Maharashtra CM's official residence?
Varsha is the official bungalow of the Maharashtra Chief Minister located in Mumbai. It has served as the state head's residence for decades and is traditionally the site of the CM's personal festival observances.
What did CM Fadnavis pray for on Anant Chaturdashi 2026?
CM Fadnavis prayed for all worries and obstacles to be removed from people's lives, for happiness and contentment to fill every home in Maharashtra, and for Lord Ganesha to return early in an atmosphere of joy the following year.
How long does Ganesh Chaturthi last in Maharashtra?
The festival lasts ten to eleven days, beginning with the installation of Ganesh idols in homes and public pandals and concluding with visarjan processions on Anant Chaturdashi.
Has the Maharashtra Chief Minister always celebrated Ganesh Chaturthi at Varsha?
Yes — successive Chief Ministers of Maharashtra from different political parties have observed Ganesh Chaturthi at Varsha, maintaining it as a consistent tradition that reflects the festival's central place in the state's public and cultural life.
