CM Fadnavis receives blessings from Sant Ramgiri Maharaj on Guru Purnima
Synopsis
On Guru Purnima, Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis welcomed Mahant Ramgiri Maharaj at his official residence and accepted an invitation to the 179th Akhand Harinam Saptah — a 168-hour continuous devotional chanting event in Ahilyanagar drawing up to 10,000 devotees.
Key Takeaways
Mahant Shri Ramgiri Maharaj , head of Godavari Dham in Ahilyanagar, visited CM Fadnavis at Varsha Niwas on Guru Purnima, 29 July 2026 .
Fadnavis accepted an invitation to the 179th Akhand Harinam Saptah of Sant Sadguru Yogiraj Gangagiriji Maharaj.
The event will be held at Shrikhetra Dhangarvadi, Ahilyanagar and will run for a continuous 168 hours .
Between 8,000 and 10,000 devotees are expected to participate in the uninterrupted kirtan.
The engagement reflects Maharashtra's political culture of honouring the state's sant-parampara traditions.
On the auspicious occasion of Guru Purnima, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis welcomed revered spiritual leader Mahant Shri Ramgiri Maharaj — head of Godavari Dham, Shrikhetra Saralabed, Ahilyanagar — at his official residence, Varsha Niwas, on Wednesday, 29 July 2026, receiving his blessings and guidance.
Fadnavis shared the visit on social media in Marathi, writing that he 'reverently welcomed' Ramgiri Maharaj and 'received his blessings.' The occasion also carried a formal invitation: the Chief Minister accepted a call to attend the 179th Akhand Harinam Saptah of Shri Sant Sadguru Yogiraj Gangagiriji Maharaj, to be held at Shrikhetra Dhangarvadi, Ahilyanagar.
168 hours of unbroken devotion at Dhangarvadi
The event is no ordinary gathering. The Akhand Harinam Saptah — a continuous, uninterrupted week of devotional chanting — is set to run for 168 hours straight, with an expected turnout of 8,000 to 10,000 devotees participating in the kirtan. The scale and continuity of the chanting make it one of the more distinctive spiritual observances in Maharashtra's devotional calendar.
Guru Purnima, observed on the full moon of the Hindu month of Ashadha, is among the most significant occasions in India's spiritual tradition — a day when disciples honour their teachers and seek guidance. Fadnavis's public reception of Ramgiri Maharaj's blessings on this day aligns with a well-established pattern among Maharashtra's political leaders of engaging meaningfully with the state's rich sant-parampara, the lineage of poet-saints stretching back centuries.
The Ahilyanagar district — formerly known as Ahmednagar, renamed in honour of queen-administrator Ahilyabai Holkar — is home to several significant religious sites, and the Dhangarvadi event draws participants from across the region. Whether Fadnavis attends in person remains to be confirmed, but his public acceptance of the invitation signals the event's prominence in the community calendar.
Point of View
Where engagement with the sant-parampara tradition carries genuine social capital. Accepting an invitation to a 179th-edition devotional event in Ahilyanagar — a district the state recently renamed to honour Ahilyabai Holkar — reinforces his government's broader effort to stay connected with rural and religiously observant communities. For a BJP leader in Maharashtra, these ties to Warkari and devotional traditions serve a dual purpose: cultural legitimacy and grassroots outreach ahead of any electoral cycle. The move is ceremonial in form but deliberate in political texture.
NationPress
29 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Ramgiri Maharaj and why did he meet CM Fadnavis?
Mahant Shri Ramgiri Maharaj is the head of Godavari Dham at Shrikhetra Saralabed in Ahilyanagar district. He visited Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis at Varsha Niwas on Guru Purnima, 29 July 2026, to offer blessings and extend an invitation to the 179th Akhand Harinam Saptah.
What is the Akhand Harinam Saptah in Ahilyanagar?
The Akhand Harinam Saptah is a continuous, uninterrupted week of devotional chanting held in honour of Sant Sadguru Yogiraj Gangagiriji Maharaj. The 179th edition will take place at Shrikhetra Dhangarvadi in Ahilyanagar and is expected to run for 168 hours with 8,000 to 10,000 devotees participating.
What is Guru Purnima and when is it celebrated?
Guru Purnima is an annual Hindu festival observed on the full moon day of the month of Ashadha. It is dedicated to honouring spiritual teachers and gurus. In 2026, it fell on 29 July.
Where is Varsha Niwas, the residence mentioned in the post?
Varsha Niwas is the official residence of the Chief Minister of Maharashtra, located in Mumbai.
Will CM Fadnavis attend the Akhand Harinam Saptah in person?
CM Fadnavis publicly accepted the invitation to the event at Dhangarvadi, Ahilyanagar. A formal confirmation of his in-person attendance has not been announced.
