CM Majhi extends Chhath Puja greetings to Odisha
Synopsis
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi greeted devotees on Chhath Puja on 15 November 2026, invoking the blessings of Surya Dev and Chhathi Maiya and calling the festival a grand tradition of nature veneration and people's faith.
Key Takeaways
Odisha CM Mohan Charan Majhi posted Chhath Puja greetings on 15 November 2026 .
He described Chhath as the 'grand festival of people's faith and sun worship' in Odia.
The CM prayed for 'new light and positive energy' and invoked blessings of Surya Dev and Chhathi Maiya .
Chhath Puja has grown in Odisha alongside its traditional stronghold in Bihar , driven by internal migration.
Majhi has been Odisha's first BJP Chief Minister since June 2024 .
As dawn broke over Odisha's river ghats on Sunday, 15 November 2026, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi extended warm wishes to devotees observing Chhath Puja — the four-day festival of sun worship and nature reverence that draws millions to the water's edge across eastern India.
Writing in Odia, CM Majhi called Chhath a 'mahaparba loka astha o surya upasanara' — 'the grand festival of people's faith and sun worship' — and prayed that the festival's 'unique tradition of nature veneration' bring 'new light and positive energy' into every life. He invoked the blessings of Surya Dev and Chhathi Maiya for the happiness of all.
A festival that travels with its people
Chhath Puja is traditionally rooted in Bihar and the eastern Gangetic belt, but its reach has grown steadily across Odisha as migrant communities from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh have made the state their home. The four-day observance — marked by rigorous fasting, pre-dawn and sunset riverbank rituals, and offerings to the rising and setting sun — stands apart from Odisha's own signature festivals such as Rath Yatra, yet it has carved out a visible presence at ghats across the state.
Majhi's outreach and BJP's cultural calendar
Mohan Charan Majhi, who became Odisha's first BJP Chief Minister in June 2024, has consistently engaged with the full spectrum of the state's cultural and religious calendar since taking office. Issuing festival greetings is standard practice for Indian state leaders, but for a BJP government in Odisha the acknowledgement of Chhath — a festival with deep resonance among communities originating from the Hindi heartland — also signals an inclusive approach to the state's diverse population.
Devotees will gather at riverbanks across Odisha at dusk and again at dawn for the climactic arghya — the offering of water to the sun — completing one of Hinduism's most demanding and visually striking acts of collective worship. Whether the state has arranged dedicated facilities at ghats this year remains to be confirmed, but the Chief Minister's message sets a tone of official warmth around the celebrations.
Point of View
Symbolic outreach on pan-Indian Hindu festivals reinforces that strategy without displacing Odisha's own cultural identity. The message also reflects how Indian state governments increasingly treat the religious calendar as a governance communication tool — projecting accessibility and inclusivity to multiple community groups simultaneously.
NationPress
15 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Odisha CM Mohan Majhi say about Chhath Puja?
CM Mohan Charan Majhi called Chhath Puja the 'grand festival of people's faith and sun worship' and prayed that it bring new light and positive energy to all, invoking the blessings of Surya Dev and Chhathi Maiya.
Is Chhath Puja celebrated in Odisha?
Yes, Chhath Puja is celebrated in Odisha, particularly among communities with cultural roots in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh who have settled in the state over the years.
When is Chhath Puja in 2026?
CM Majhi's greetings were posted on 15 November 2026, coinciding with the main Chhath Puja observances involving sunrise and sunset riverbank rituals.
Who is Mohan Charan Majhi?
Mohan Charan Majhi is a BJP leader who became Chief Minister of Odisha in June 2024, making him the state's first BJP Chief Minister.
What is Chhath Puja and why is it significant?
Chhath Puja is a four-day Hindu festival dedicated to Surya Dev (the sun god) and Chhathi Maiya, observed with rigorous fasting and riverbank rituals at dawn and dusk, and is one of the most demanding collective acts of worship in the Hindu calendar.
