CM Himanta links Maa Chandraghanta to Assam's Veerangana
Synopsis
On Navratri Day 3, Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma honoured Maa Chandraghanta by drawing a parallel with Veerangana — India's first all-women commando unit trained in martial arts, motorcycle patrolling and weapons handling to combat crimes against women in Assam.
Key Takeaways
Navratri Day 3 tribute: CM Himanta Biswa Sarma invoked Maa Chandraghanta to salute Assam's women in uniform on 13 October 2026 .
Veerangana unit: Described as India's first all-women commando unit, specifically deployed to tackle crimes against women in Assam.
Training profile: Veerangana commandos are trained in martial arts, motorcycle patrolling, and weapons handling .
Core message: CM Sarma stated that 'strength has no gender,' framing the unit as a symbol of empowerment beyond its policing role.
Festive context: The post asks citizens celebrating Navratri in pandals to also acknowledge women in uniform keeping watch during the festivities.
On the third day of Navratri, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma drew a vivid parallel between the divine and the duty-bound — invoking Maa Chandraghanta, the warrior goddess whose crescent bell drives away fear, to salute Veerangana, India's first all-women commando unit operating in Assam.
Veerangana: Assam's answer to crimes against women
Veerangana is described by CM Sarma as a unit trained in martial arts, motorcycle patrolling, and weapons handling — deployed specifically to tackle crimes against women in the state. The name itself, meaning 'brave woman warrior' in Sanskrit, is a deliberate echo of the goddess imagery that defines Navratri.
The Chief Minister framed the unit's existence as a statement that stretches beyond policing: 'Strength has no gender, and a woman can protect as fiercely as she nurtures.' Each commando on patrol, he argued, delivers a dual signal — a firm warning to potential wrongdoers, and quiet reassurance to families at home.
The Navratri hook — and the harder point beneath it
Navratri is a season when goddess worship and public celebration converge across India. CM Sarma used that convergence deliberately. As lakhs of devotees fill pandals in Assam over the coming days, he asked citizens to also 'salute every woman in uniform who keeps watch while we celebrate.'
The juxtaposition is pointed: the same culture that venerates a warrior goddess should, the post implies, also invest in real women warriors. It is a rhetorical move that ties religious sentiment to a concrete state policing initiative — giving Veerangana visibility at exactly the moment public attention is highest.
A message aimed at Assam's daughters
The post ends not with a policy announcement but with aspiration — that every girl watching a Veerangana commando on duty internalises the lesson that protection is not a gendered privilege. CM Sarma closed with a prayer that Maa Chandraghanta keep these women safe, and that 'her bell ring in every heart as a promise of protection.'
It is a Navratri tribute that doubles as a recruitment pitch for a certain kind of civic pride — the idea that Assam's answer to violence against women rides a motorcycle and carries a weapon, not just a prayer.
Point of View
The BJP government in Assam positions law enforcement as an extension of cultural values rather than a bureaucratic function. It reflects a broader BJP governing style of fusing governance delivery with civilisational narrative. The move also reinforces Assam's identity as a state with visible, headline-friendly women-centric policing — a brand CM Sarma has cultivated consistently.
NationPress
13 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Veerangana in Assam?
Veerangana is described by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma as India's first all-women commando unit, trained in martial arts, motorcycle patrolling and weapons handling, and deployed to tackle crimes against women in Assam.
Why did Himanta Biswa Sarma mention Maa Chandraghanta with Veerangana?
CM Sarma posted on Navratri Day 3, which is dedicated to Maa Chandraghanta, and drew a parallel between the warrior goddess and Veerangana commandos — both representing grace, courage, and protection against evil.
What is Navratri Day 3 and which goddess is worshipped?
The third day of Navratri is dedicated to Maa Chandraghanta , the warrior form of Goddess Durga whose crescent-shaped bell is believed to drive away fear and evil forces.
What does Veerangana commando training include?
According to CM Sarma's post, Veerangana commandos are trained in martial arts, motorcycle patrolling, and weapons handling, making them a specialised force for combating crimes against women.
What was Himanta Biswa Sarma's message for Navratri 2026?
CM Sarma used Navratri Day 3 to ask citizens filling festival pandals to also salute women in uniform keeping watch, stating that 'strength has no gender' and invoking a prayer for the safety of Veerangana commandos.
