CM Majhi extends Maha Saptami greetings to Odisha
Synopsis
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi marked Maha Saptami on 17 October 2026 with warm public greetings in Odia, invoking Maa Durga's grace and praying for the happiness and prosperity of all people.
Key Takeaways
Mohan Charan Majhi , Odisha Chief Minister and BJP leader, posted Maha Saptami greetings on 17 October 2026 .
The message was written in Odia and addressed to all people of the state.
He invoked Maa Durga as Jagatajananee — the Mother of the Universe — praying for happiness and prosperity.
Maha Saptami is the seventh day of Navratri and a key moment in the Durga Puja calendar observed widely across eastern India.
Majhi, who assumed office in 2024 , has continued a pattern of high-profile cultural engagement with Odisha's festival traditions.
On the auspicious occasion of Maha Saptami, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi extended warm wishes to the people of the state, praying that the boundless grace of Maa Durga fill every life with happiness and prosperity.
Posting in Odia on Saturday, 17 October 2026, the Chief Minister wrote: 'ପବିତ୍ର ମହାସପ୍ତମୀ ଅବସରରେ ସମସ୍ତଙ୍କୁ ହାର୍ଦ୍ଦିକ ଶୁଭେଚ୍ଛା ଓ ଅଭିନନ୍ଦନ।' — 'Heartfelt greetings and congratulations to all on the holy occasion of Maha Saptami. May the infinite compassion of the Mother of the Universe, Maa Durga, fill everyone's life with happiness and prosperity.'Maha Saptami and Odisha's Durga Puja tradition
Maha Saptami marks the seventh day of the Navratri calendar and is among the most devotionally significant days of Durga Puja, widely celebrated across eastern India. In Odisha, veneration of Maa Durga draws on deep regional roots, weaving together pan-Indian Navratri observances with distinctive local customs that animate communities across the state each autumn.
For millions of Odia Hindus, the goddess is revered as Jagatajananee — the Mother of the Universe — a title Chief Minister Majhi invoked directly in his message, signalling a personal as well as political resonance with the tradition.
Leaders and festivals: a familiar political rhythm
Indian political leaders across party lines routinely mark major Hindu festivals with public greetings, and Chief Ministers in eastern India — where Durga Puja commands enormous social energy — are especially visible participants. For Mohan Charan Majhi, who took office in 2024 as Odisha's first BJP Chief Minister in the state's modern history, such cultural touchpoints also serve as moments of outreach to a devout electorate.
As the remaining days of Durga Puja unfold, the state government's engagement with associated cultural programmes and community celebrations will continue to reflect the administration's approach to Odisha's rich festival calendar.
Point of View
Reinforcing a connection between the party's identity and eastern India's most celebrated festival. The choice to post in Odia rather than Hindi underscores a deliberate regionalist register. Sustained cultural engagement of this kind is a low-stakes but consistent instrument of voter-relation management ahead of future electoral cycles.
NationPress
17 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Maha Saptami and why is it celebrated?
Maha Saptami is the seventh day of the Navratri festival, dedicated to the worship of Goddess Durga. It marks the beginning of the most sacred phase of Durga Puja, widely observed across eastern India including Odisha.
What did Odisha CM Mohan Charan Majhi say on Maha Saptami 2026?
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi extended heartfelt greetings to all on Maha Saptami, praying that the infinite grace of Maa Durga fill everyone's life with happiness and prosperity.
Who is Mohan Charan Majhi?
Mohan Charan Majhi is the Chief Minister of Odisha and a senior BJP leader who assumed office in 2024, leading the state's first BJP government in its modern political history.
How is Durga Puja celebrated in Odisha?
In Odisha, Durga Puja blends pan-Indian Navratri traditions with distinctive regional customs. Maa Durga is revered as Jagatajananee — Mother of the Universe — and festivities draw widespread community participation across the state each autumn.
Do Indian politicians regularly post festival greetings?
Yes, it is a well-established practice for Indian political leaders across parties to publicly mark major Hindu festivals. Chief Ministers in eastern India, where Durga Puja has enormous social significance, are especially active participants.
