CM Rekha Gupta joins Dussehra festivities in Shalimar Bagh
Synopsis
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta joined Dussehra festivities organised by three Ramleela committees in Shalimar Bagh and Pitampura on Vijaya Dashami, using the occasion to invoke Lord Ram's ideals and call for unity, development, and resistance to divisive forces.
Key Takeaways
CM Rekha Gupta attended Dussehra events on 20 October 2026 — Vijaya Dashami — in Shalimar Bagh and Pitampura , North West Delhi.
She participated in events by three committees: Shri Ramleela Committee Pitampura , Shalimar Bagh Ramleela Committee , and Shri Ramlakhan Dharmik Ramleela Committee, Haiderpur .
Gupta called on citizens to pledge, alongside Ravan Dahan, to resist thought that divides society and actions that obstruct development or harm national interest.
She linked the occasion to the Viksit Bharat (Developed India) vision, framing Delhi's progress as a collective resolve.
The participation follows a broader BJP pattern of senior leaders attending neighbourhood Ramlila events during the festive season to engage at the grassroots level.
On the night of Vijaya Dashami, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta stepped into the heart of North West Delhi's festive streets, joining three separate Dussehra celebrations across Shalimar Bagh and Pitampura — and turning the occasion into a call to action rooted in the ideals of Lord Ram.
Three committees, one spirited evening in North West Delhi
CM Gupta attended events organised by Shri Ramleela Committee, Pitampura; Shalimar Bagh Ramleela Committee; and Shri Ramlakhan Dharmik Ramleela Committee, Haiderpur — three of the neighbourhood-level committees that have kept Delhi's Ramlila tradition alive for decades. Shalimar Bagh, a densely populated residential locality in North West Delhi, draws large crowds for its community Ramlila performances each year, with the Ravan Dahan on Vijaya Dashami marking the cultural high point of the festive calendar.
Posting on X on 20 October 2026, the Chief Minister wrote that 'Shalimar Bagh ki Rambhakti, samridh saanskritik paramparaen aur kshetravaasiyon ka sneh Vijaya Dashami ke utsav ko aur bhi vishesh banaate hain' — 'the devotion to Ram in Shalimar Bagh, its rich cultural traditions, and the affection of residents make the Vijaya Dashami celebration all the more special.'
Ravan Dahan and a pledge against forces that divide
Beyond the festivities, Gupta used the symbolism of Ravan Dahan — the ritual burning of the demon king's effigy that marks the victory of good over evil — to articulate a political and social message. She called on citizens to resolve, alongside the bonfire, to firmly confront 'every thought that divides society, every tendency that obstructs development, and every challenge that stands against the national interest.' The language was deliberately broad, invoking Ram's ideals as a moral compass rather than a partisan slogan.
'Dilli ki pragati aur Viksit Bharat ka sankalp hi hamari samuhik shakti bane' — 'Let Delhi's progress and the resolve for a Developed India become our collective strength' — she wrote, closing with Jai Shri Ram! and the #VijayaDashami hashtag.
A BJP pattern: festive streets as political ground
BJP leaders across Delhi routinely participate in neighbourhood Ramlila and Dussehra events during the festive season, using the community gatherings to reinforce both cultural identity and the party's development narrative. For a Chief Minister navigating the governance challenges of one of the world's most complex cities, showing up in the lanes of Shalimar Bagh on Vijaya Dashami carries a clear signal: that the administration is present at the grassroots, and that festivals remain a vital bridge between elected officials and residents.
As the festive season continues through Diwali, similar engagements by CM Gupta across other Delhi localities are expected to follow.
Point of View
A key electoral belt. The explicit invocation of 'Viksit Bharat' tethers a local festival to the Centre's headline development narrative, reinforcing alignment between the Delhi government and the national BJP. As Delhi heads toward its next political cycle, these festive-season touchpoints are likely to intensify.
NationPress
20 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Dussehra events did Delhi CM Rekha Gupta attend on Vijaya Dashami 2026?
CM Rekha Gupta attended events organised by Shri Ramleela Committee Pitampura, Shalimar Bagh Ramleela Committee, and Shri Ramlakhan Dharmik Ramleela Committee in Haiderpur on 20 October 2026.
What message did Rekha Gupta give on Vijaya Dashami 2026?
She called on citizens to pledge, along with Ravan Dahan, to firmly oppose thoughts that divide society, tendencies that obstruct development, and challenges against the national interest, linking the message to Delhi's progress and the Viksit Bharat vision.
Where is Shalimar Bagh and why is it significant for Dussehra?
Shalimar Bagh is a residential locality in North West Delhi that hosts multiple community Ramleela events each year, with Ravan Dahan on Vijaya Dashami being its festive centrepiece drawing large neighbourhood crowds.
What is Vijaya Dashami and when was it celebrated in 2026?
Vijaya Dashami, also called Dussehra, marks the victory of Lord Ram over the demon king Ravan and is observed on the tenth day of Navratri. In 2026 it fell on 20 October.
Why do BJP leaders attend Ramlila events in Delhi?
BJP leaders in Delhi routinely participate in neighbourhood Ramlila and Dussehra events to engage with residents at the grassroots level and reinforce themes of cultural identity alongside their development and governance agenda.
