CM Majhi extends greetings on Kumarotsava and Gajalakshmi Puja

Key Takeaways

Mohan Charan Majhi , Chief Minister of Odisha, issued public greetings on Kumarotsava and Gajalakshmi Puja on 25 October 2026 .

The message was posted in Odia on X, offering 'heartfelt greetings and congratulations' to all.

Gajalakshmi Puja is a traditional Odia autumn festival venerating Goddess Lakshmi in her elephant-flanked form.

Kumarotsava is observed alongside Gajalakshmi Puja, celebrating youth and familial joy.

Majhi has made consistent cultural outreach a visible feature of his tenure since taking office after the 2024 Odisha elections .

Odisha's autumn festival calendar carries the warmth of tradition into every household, and Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi stepped forward on Sunday, 25 October 2026 to mark the occasion with a heartfelt public greeting to all Odias on the sacred Kumarotsava and Gajalakshmi Puja.

Posting in Odia on X, the Chief Minister wrote: 'ପବିତ୍ର କୁମାରୋତ୍ସବ ଓ ଗଜଲକ୍ଷ୍ମୀ ପୂଜା ଅବସରରେ ସମସ୍ତଙ୍କୁ ହାର୍ଦ୍ଦିକ ଶୁଭେଚ୍ଛା ଓ ଅଭିନନ୍ଦନ।' — 'Heartfelt greetings and congratulations to everyone on the occasion of the sacred Kumarotsava and Gajalakshmi Puja.'

Gajalakshmi Puja and Odisha's autumn worship tradition

Gajalakshmi Puja is woven into Odisha's traditional autumn worship calendar, centred on the veneration of Goddess Lakshmi in her elephant-flanked form — a symbol of abundance and grace. The festival sits within a wider cluster of seasonal observances that define the cultural rhythm of the state in the post-monsoon months. Kumarotsava, celebrated alongside it, adds a note of familial joy to the proceedings, honoring youth and vitality.

A chief minister's cultural voice

Since assuming office after the 2024 Odisha assembly elections, Majhi has consistently used his public platform to acknowledge the state's rich festival landscape. State chief ministers across India routinely extend such greetings on regional occasions as a bridge between governance and cultural identity — a practice that signals both respect for local tradition and visibility among constituents. For a state as culturally layered as Odisha, these moments carry genuine resonance beyond the ceremonial.

Point of View

Where the BJP won its first outright majority in 2024, these festival acknowledgements are not merely ceremonial; they are part of a deliberate effort to embed the new administration within the state's deep cultural fabric. Gajalakshmi and Kumarotsava are locally resonant occasions, making the choice of Odia as the language of greeting — rather than Hindi or English — a pointed cultural signal. Over time, such touchpoints build the soft political capital that complements harder policy messaging.

NationPress

25 Oct 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Gajalakshmi Puja in Odisha?

Gajalakshmi Puja is a traditional Odia autumn festival that venerates Goddess Lakshmi in her form flanked by elephants, symbolising abundance and prosperity. It is part of Odisha's rich seasonal worship calendar observed after the monsoon months.

What is Kumarotsava?

Kumarotsava is a festival observed in Odisha that celebrates youth and vitality, often coinciding with other autumn worship occasions. Chief Minister Majhi greeted citizens on it alongside Gajalakshmi Puja on 25 October 2026.

Who is Mohan Charan Majhi?

Mohan Charan Majhi is the Chief Minister of Odisha and a senior BJP leader who assumed office after the BJP won its first outright majority in the state in the 2024 assembly elections.

Why did CM Majhi post in Odia on X?

Majhi posted his festival greetings in Odia to directly connect with Odia-speaking constituents, reinforcing cultural identity and demonstrating respect for the state's language on a regionally significant occasion.

When did Mohan Majhi become Odisha Chief Minister?

Mohan Charan Majhi became Chief Minister of Odisha following the 2024 state assembly elections, in which the BJP secured a majority in the state for the first time.