CM Himanta Extends Kali Puja Greetings to Sanatani Community
Synopsis
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma marked Kali Puja on 8 November 2026 with a heartfelt Hindi prayer, invoking Maa Kali's blessings to overcome negative forces and saluting the sacred night observed by Sanatani devotees across eastern India.
Key Takeaways
Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma posted Kali Puja greetings on 8 November 2026 .
He described the occasion as 'maharatri' โ the great night โ dedicated to worshipping Maa Kali , the primal Shakti.
His prayer sought the goddess's blessings to overcome every negative ( apshakti ) force.
Kali Puja is observed on the new moon night coinciding with Diwali, particularly in Assam and West Bengal .
As NEDA convenor, Sarma's festival messaging reinforces BJP's cultural outreach across the Northeast.
On the new moon night that transforms eastern India into a sea of flickering lamps and devotion, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma offered prayers to Maa Kali on Sunday, 8 November 2026, invoking the goddess's blessings against all negative forces as Kali Puja was observed across the region.
In a post on X, the Chief Minister wrote in Hindi: 'Aaj woh maharatri hai, jab jagatjannani adyashakti ki upasana mein har sanatani leen hota hai' โ 'Today is that great night when every follower of Sanatan Dharma is immersed in the worship of the mother of the universe, the primal Shakti.' He prayed that Mahashakti Maa Kali bless all with the strength to overcome every negative force, closing with 'Jai Maa Kali ๐บ'.
Kali Puja's Deep Roots in Assam
Kali Puja falls on the new moon night (amavasya) that coincides with Diwali, and in Assam and West Bengal it rivals the festival of lights in cultural weight. While much of India lights lamps for Lakshmi, the eastern tradition turns its gaze to the fierce, protective form of the goddess โ Kali, remover of darkness and destroyer of evil. Temples across Guwahati and the Brahmaputra valley hold night-long rituals, with devotees gathering through the small hours.
BJP's Northeast Outreach Through Festival Messaging
Sarma, who also serves as convenor of the North-East Democratic Alliance (NEDA), has consistently used major Hindu festival occasions to reinforce cultural identity messaging in a region where BJP has expanded significantly over the past decade. For BJP leaders in the Northeast, public participation in Kali Puja and Durga Puja traditions speaks directly to a shared cultural inheritance with neighbouring Bengal โ a bridge of devotion that cuts across state lines.
The gesture is routine in form but deliberate in signal: on the holiest night of the Kali Puja calendar, Assam's most prominent political voice is on the floor with the faithful. Jai Maa Kali.
Point of View
Especially in the Northeast, where religious identity and electoral mobilisation are closely intertwined. Sarma's choice of Sanskrit-rooted Hindi โ invoking 'jagatjannani adyashakti' and 'maharatri' โ signals a deliberate alignment with Sanatani vocabulary that resonates with BJP's core cultural pitch. As NEDA convenor, he is also speaking to a multi-state constituency where Kali Puja traditions link Assam organically to West Bengal, a state BJP has long targeted. These messages are soft-power instruments as much as expressions of personal faith.
NationPress
8 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Kali Puja and when is it celebrated?
Kali Puja is a Hindu festival dedicated to Goddess Kali , celebrated on the new moon night ( amavasya ) that coincides with Diwali . It is especially prominent in Assam and West Bengal , where night-long rituals are held at temples.
What did CM Himanta Biswa Sarma post for Kali Puja 2026?
Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma posted a Hindi message on 8 November 2026 describing the night as 'maharatri' and praying that Maa Kali bless every devotee with the strength to overcome negative forces, signing off with 'Jai Maa Kali ๐บ'.
How is Kali Puja different from Diwali?
While Diwali in much of India is primarily associated with Goddess Lakshmi , in eastern India โ especially Assam and West Bengal โ the same new moon night is celebrated as Kali Puja , with worship centred on the fierce, protective form of the goddess, Maa Kali .
What is the significance of Maa Kali in Sanatani tradition?
Maa Kali is worshipped as a form of Adyashakti โ the primal cosmic power โ revered as the destroyer of evil and negative forces. She is considered both terrifying and protective, and her worship on the dark new moon night is believed to bring blessings and spiritual strength.
Why does Himanta Biswa Sarma's Kali Puja message matter politically?
As Assam Chief Minister and NEDA convenor, Sarma uses major Hindu festival occasions to reinforce cultural identity outreach across the Northeast. His public engagement with Kali Puja also signals BJP's shared cultural bridge with West Bengal , where the festival is a defining tradition.
