CM Nayab Saini pays floral tribute to Baje Bhagat in Chandigarh
Synopsis
Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini paid floral tribute to celebrated Haryana folk poet and Saang exponent Baje Bhagat on his birth anniversary at Sant Kabir Kutir, Chandigarh, on 15 July 2026, reaffirming the state's commitment to honouring its folk performing arts heritage.
Key Takeaways
CM Nayab Singh Saini paid a floral tribute to folk poet Baje Bhagat on his birth anniversary on 15 July 2026 .
The ceremony was held at Sant Kabir Kutir , a cultural venue in Chandigarh .
Baje Bhagat is recognised as a distinguished folk poet, Ragini composer, and exponent of the traditional Saang theatre form of Haryana.
The tribute was announced by the official Chief Minister's Office of Haryana on X.
Such birth anniversary commemorations are part of Haryana's established practice of state-level recognition for regional folk artists.
The Chief Minister's Office of Haryana announced on Wednesday, 15 July 2026, that Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini paid a floral tribute to renowned Haryana folk poet Baje Bhagat on his birth anniversary at Sant Kabir Kutir, Chandigarh. The Chief Minister garlanded a portrait of the celebrated Ragini composer and Saang exponent in a solemn ceremony.
Context
The post states that CM Nayab Saini 'पुष्पांजलि अर्पित कर उन्हें श्रद्धापूर्वक नमन किया' — 'offered floral tributes and paid reverential homage' — to Baje Bhagat's portrait at the Sant Kabir Kutir cultural venue in Chandigarh. The occasion was the birth anniversary of the folk artist, who is described in the official post as a distinguished folk poet, Ragini writer, and master of the Saang tradition of Haryana.
Baje Bhagat is regarded as one of Haryana's most celebrated voices in the folk performing arts. His compositions in the Ragini genre and his contributions to the Saang theatre form — a traditional music-drama style native to the state — have made him a revered cultural figure across the region.
Policy Backdrop
Haryana has a long-standing institutional practice of marking birth anniversaries of regional poets, folk musicians, and performing artists through official state-level tributes. Such commemorations are typically organised at designated cultural venues, with the Chief Minister or senior officials leading the homage, regardless of the ruling party.
Sant Kabir Kutir in Chandigarh serves as a recognised site for such cultural commemorations, hosting events that honour folk artists and literary figures connected to the state's heritage. The Saang and Ragini traditions that Baje Bhagat embodied remain central to Haryana's distinct cultural identity.
Stakeholders and Impact
The tribute holds significance for Haryana's folk art community, including Ragini performers, Saang practitioners, and regional cultural organisations who look to official recognition as a means of sustaining interest in traditional art forms. Such state-backed commemorations also serve to introduce younger generations to the state's performing arts legacy.
For the Nayab Saini-led government, participation in cultural anniversary events reinforces the administration's engagement with Haryana's grassroots artistic heritage alongside its policy agenda.
What's Next
The Haryana government's cultural calendar for 2026-27 is expected to include further birth anniversary observances and heritage programmes honouring the state's folk artists and literary figures. Events of this nature typically form part of a broader annual schedule of state-recognised cultural commemorations across Haryana and at the capital Chandigarh.
Point of View
Honouring Saang and Ragini traditions — art forms with deep rural and agrarian resonance — carries particular symbolic weight ahead of ongoing local governance cycles. The choice of Sant Kabir Kutir as the venue also subtly invokes the Bhakti tradition, broadening the cultural register of the event. Taken together, such gestures reflect how state governments weave folk heritage into the fabric of official public engagement.
NationPress
15 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did CM Nayab Saini pay tribute to Baje Bhagat?
CM Nayab Saini paid floral tribute to Baje Bhagat on the occasion of the folk poet's birth anniversary on 15 July 2026, as part of the state's official cultural commemoration programme.
Where was the Baje Bhagat birth anniversary event held?
The event was held at Sant Kabir Kutir in Chandigarh, a cultural venue used for commemorating Haryana's folk artists and literary figures.
What is the Saang tradition in Haryana?
Saang is a traditional form of music-drama or folk theatre native to Haryana, typically combining singing, dialogue, and performance, and is closely associated with the Ragini genre of folk poetry.
What is CM Nayab Saini's role in Haryana?
Nayab Singh Saini is the Chief Minister of Haryana, serving since March 2024, and represents the Bharatiya Janata Party.
