CM Fadnavis visits Skandamata temple in Sion, Mumbai on Navratri
Synopsis
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis visited the Skandamata mandal at Antop Hill, Sion Koliwada, Mumbai on Navratri's fifth day, offering prayers for all of Maharashtra and thanking MLA Captain Tamil Selvan's organisation for the warm welcome.
Key Takeaways
CM Devendra Fadnavis visited the Skandamata temple at Antop Hill, Sion Koliwada, Mumbai on 13 October 2026 .
The visit was organised by MLA Captain R.
Fadnavis offered prayers specifically for the welfare of all of Maharashtra .
Legislators Ashish Shelar and Prasad Lad were also present at the event.
The CM expressed gratitude to the mandal for their warm reception during the Navratri observance.
On the auspicious fifth day of Navratri, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis bowed before Goddess Skandamata at Antop Hill, Sion Koliwada, Mumbai, offering prayers for the welfare of the entire state of Maharashtra.
The visit, organised by MLA Captain R. Tamil Selvan, saw Fadnavis pay his respects at the mandal on 13 October 2026. The Chief Minister expressed heartfelt gratitude to the mandal for what he described as a warm and affectionate welcome.
A prayer for Maharashtra's well-being at Skandamata
Sharing the moment on X in Marathi, Fadnavis wrote: 'Navratri म्हणजे शक्तीची पूजा, मातेचे स्मरण आणि भक्तीचा जागर!' — 'Navratri is the worship of Shakti, the remembrance of the Mother, and the awakening of devotion!' He added that he knelt at the feet of the Goddess and prayed specifically for the well-being of all of Maharashtra.
Skandamata, venerated on the fifth day of Navratri, is celebrated as the mother of the warrior god Kartikeya and a symbol of fierce maternal power — a fitting deity for a visit framed around collective welfare.
Sion Koliwada's Antop Hill mandal in the spotlight
Sion Koliwada is one of Mumbai's oldest Koli fishing settlements, carrying deep cultural significance in the city's social fabric. The Antop Hill Skandamata mandal is among the community-organised festival bodies that bring Navratri celebrations to Mumbai's working-class neighbourhoods every year. A senior state leader's presence at such a grassroots mandal — rather than a grander institutional venue — underlines the political as much as the devotional character of the occasion.
Chief Ministers visiting temples and participating in festival observances during Navratri is a well-established practice across Indian states, blending public religiosity with constituency engagement. Fadnavis was accompanied by legislators including Ashish Shelar and Prasad Lad, both tagged in the post.
With Navratri continuing through its remaining days, similar visits by state leaders across Maharashtra are expected before the festival concludes.
Point of View
Part outreach. Fadnavis's choice of a grassroots Koli-neighbourhood mandal in Sion, organised by a sitting MLA, signals active local constituency maintenance ahead of any future electoral cycle in Maharashtra. The explicit prayer 'for the welfare of all Maharashtra' is a standard but effective framing that projects statesman-like concern beyond partisan lines. Such visits rarely carry direct policy weight but reinforce the CM's image as accessible and culturally rooted.
NationPress
14 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Which temple did CM Devendra Fadnavis visit during Navratri 2026?
CM Devendra Fadnavis visited the Skandamata mandal at Antop Hill, Sion Koliwada, in Mumbai on 13 October 2026.
Who organised Fadnavis's Navratri visit at Antop Hill?
The visit was organised by MLA Captain R. Tamil Selvan.
What did CM Fadnavis pray for at the Skandamata temple?
CM Fadnavis prayed for the overall welfare and well-being of the entire state of Maharashtra.
Which day of Navratri is Skandamata worshipped?
Skandamata is the presiding deity of the fifth day of Navratri, revered as the mother of the warrior god Kartikeya.
Which BJP leaders accompanied Fadnavis at the Sion Koliwada Navratri event?
Legislators Ashish Shelar and Prasad Lad were among those present alongside CM Fadnavis at the event.
