CM Majhi meets Kartik Brata devotees at Puri's Shrikhetra
Synopsis
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi joined habishyali women observing the Kartik Brata fast at the sacred city of Puri on 12 November 2026, engaging them in conversation and seeking their blessings at Shrikhetra — continuing a long tradition of elected leaders attending Puri's major Hindu observances.
Key Takeaways
CM Mohan Charan Majhi visited Puri's Shrikhetra on 12 November 2026 to meet women devotees observing Kartik Brata .
The women, known as habishyali , maintain strict fasting vows through the Hindu month of Kartik.
Majhi conversed with the devotees and received their blessings in a community-outreach setting rather than a formal ceremony.
Puri's Jagannath Temple precinct attracts some of the largest Kartik Brata gatherings in Odisha.
Majhi has led Odisha as its first BJP Chief Minister since his 2024 swearing-in, and such pilgrim-site visits have been a recurring feature of his public engagement.
At the sacred shrine city of Puri, hundreds of habishyali women — devotees observing the rigorous Kartik Brata fast — found an unexpected visitor among them on Thursday, 12 November 2026: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, who sat with them, listened, and sought their blessings in a moment that blended governance with devotion.
The Chief Minister's Office of Odisha shared the visit on X, noting that CM Majhi was 'present among the revered habishyali mothers observing Kartik Brata at the holy Shrikhetra, Puri, engaging with them in conversation and humbly receiving their blessings.'
What Kartik Brata means — and why Puri is its heartbeat
Kartik Brata is one of Odisha's most deeply observed women's fasting rituals, performed through the month of Kartik in the Hindu calendar. Women undertaking the vow — called habishyali — maintain strict dietary restrictions, often eating only a single simple meal, and gather at sacred sites for collective worship and prayer. Puri, home to the ancient Jagannath Temple, draws the largest congregations in the state, lending the ritual a scale and spiritual gravity found nowhere else in Odisha.Majhi among the devotees: a tradition of elected presence
Mohan Charan Majhi, who was sworn in as Odisha's first BJP-led Chief Minister in 2024, is not the first state leader to show up at Puri during major Hindu observances. Odisha's political class has long treated such appearances as an exercise in community connection — sitting with devotees, hearing local concerns, and participating in the spiritual rhythm of the state's majority faith. What made Thursday's visit notable was its personal texture: the CM did not preside over a formal ceremony but instead joined the habishyali women in conversation, letting the gathering set the tone.Point of View
Sustained visibility at sites like Puri carries both symbolic and strategic weight. Such visits rarely produce policy outcomes, but they do build the softer architecture of political trust in a deeply faith-oriented electorate. The question going forward is whether this engagement deepens into tangible infrastructure or welfare commitments for pilgrims, or remains largely ceremonial.
NationPress
12 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Kartik Brata and who observes it in Odisha?
Kartik Brata is a traditional Hindu fasting ritual observed by women in Odisha during the month of Kartik. Women who observe this vow are called habishyali and follow strict dietary restrictions while gathering at sacred sites, especially in Puri, for collective worship.
Why did CM Mohan Charan Majhi visit Puri on 12 November 2026?
CM Majhi visited Puri's Shrikhetra to meet habishyali women observing the Kartik Brata fast, engage them in conversation, and receive their blessings — a community outreach gesture during one of Odisha's most prominent women-led religious observances.
Who is Mohan Charan Majhi?
Mohan Charan Majhi is the Chief Minister of Odisha, sworn into office in 2024 as the head of the state's first BJP-led government after the party ended a long run of regional incumbency.
Why is Puri significant for Kartik Brata celebrations?
Puri is home to the ancient Jagannath Temple and is Odisha's most important pilgrimage city. It draws the largest habishyali gatherings in the state during Kartik month, making it the spiritual epicentre of the observance.
Is it common for Odisha's Chief Ministers to attend events at Puri?
Yes. Odisha's elected leaders have long attended major Hindu festivals and rituals at Puri as part of community engagement. These visits typically involve brief interactions and blessings rather than formal policy announcements.
