CM Majhi extends Vijaya Dashami and Dussehra greetings
Synopsis
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi marked Vijaya Dashami and Dussehra on 20 October 2026 with an Odia-language message invoking the victory of truth, dharma, and justice — core themes of the festival observed across India.
Key Takeaways
Odisha CM Mohan Charan Majhi posted Vijaya Dashami and Dussehra greetings on 20 October 2026 .
The message was written in Odia , emphasising the victory of truth over falsehood, dharma over adharma, and justice over injustice.
Vijaya Dashami is observed as the tenth day of Navratri, celebrated as Dussehra in northern India and as the conclusion of Durga Puja in eastern India.
Majhi took office in June 2024 as Odisha's first chief minister from the Koya tribal community .
Festival greetings in regional languages are a standard form of cultural outreach by Indian state governments, particularly in eastern India.
On the auspicious occasion of Vijaya Dashami and Dussehra, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi extended warm wishes to the people of the state, invoking the timeless symbolism of truth triumphing over falsehood, dharma over adharma, and justice over injustice.
In his message posted on Tuesday, 20 October 2026, Chief Minister Majhi described the festival as a 'mahaparba' — a grand celebration — of these eternal victories. He wrote in Odia: 'ଅସତ୍ୟ ଉପରେ ସତ୍ୟର, ଅଧର୍ମ ଉପରେ ଧର୍ମର ଏବଂ ଅନ୍ୟାୟ ଉପରେ ନ୍ୟାୟର ବିଜୟର ମହାପର୍ବ' — 'the great festival of victory of truth over falsehood, of righteousness over unrighteousness, and of justice over injustice.'
Vijaya Dashami and what it marks across India
Vijaya Dashami, observed on the tenth day of the Navratri cycle, is one of the most widely celebrated Hindu festivals across India. In northern and central India it is marked as Dussehra — the burning of Ravana's effigy symbolising the defeat of evil — while in eastern India, including Odisha and West Bengal, it concludes the grand Durga Puja celebrations with the immersion of the goddess. Both traditions converge on the same moral core: good prevails.
A routine but resonant gesture in Odisha politics
Festival greetings from Indian chief ministers are a well-established form of public outreach, particularly in culturally diverse states like Odisha. For Majhi, who assumed office in June 2024 as the state's first chief minister from the Koya tribal community, such messages also carry a symbolic weight — anchoring his government's identity in the shared cultural fabric of the state. The choice to post in Odia reinforces that connect with a predominantly Odia-speaking electorate.
Point of View
Anchoring public messaging in shared Hindu festival symbolism reinforces a cultural identity that the party has long positioned as central to its eastern India outreach. The post carries no policy content, but its significance lies in consistency: leaders who speak to citizens in the language of their festivals build familiarity that outlasts any single news cycle.
NationPress
20 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Vijaya Dashami?
Vijaya Dashami is a major Hindu festival observed on the tenth day of the Navratri cycle, celebrating the victory of good over evil. It is known as Dussehra in northern and central India, and marks the conclusion of Durga Puja in eastern India.
Why did Odisha CM Mohan Majhi post Vijaya Dashami greetings in Odia?
Chief Minister Majhi posted in Odia to connect directly with the predominantly Odia-speaking people of Odisha, a common cultural outreach practice among Indian state leaders on major festivals.
When did Mohan Charan Majhi become Chief Minister of Odisha?
Mohan Charan Majhi became Chief Minister of Odisha in June 2024 , becoming the state's first chief minister from the Koya tribal community.
What does Dussehra symbolise?
Dussehra symbolises the triumph of truth over falsehood, righteousness over wrongdoing, and justice over injustice — themes drawn from Hindu epics, including Lord Rama's victory over Ravana in the Ramayana.
Do Indian chief ministers typically post festival greetings on social media?
Yes. Indian chief ministers and political leaders routinely post festival greetings on social media platforms during major occasions like Dussehra, Diwali, and Eid as part of standard public and cultural outreach.
