CM Bhupendra Patel joins Dussehra celebrations in Ahmedabad's Thaltej
Synopsis
Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel attended the 'Vijayadashami Mahotsav 2026' in Ahmedabad's Thaltej on 20 October, joining Ravan Dahan ceremonies and a Sanatani Dayro featuring folk artist Sairam Dave, organised by the Shanti Seva Charitable Trust.
Key Takeaways
Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel attended the Vijayadashami Mahotsav 2026 at Thaltej, Ahmedabad on 20 October 2026 .
The event was organised by Shanti Seva Charitable Trust and featured both a Sanatani Dayro and a Ravan Dahan ceremony.
Popular Gujarati artist Sairam Dave performed alongside fellow artists at the cultural gathering.
The CM described the evening as a confluence of Sanatan Sanskriti and Indian tradition, congratulating the organisers.
Gujarat has a strong tradition of large-scale Dussehra and Navratri celebrations, with CM participation being an established custom.
The night sky over Thaltej, Ahmedabad lit up with the flames of Ravan Dahan on Tuesday, 20 October 2026, as Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel joined thousands of citizens for the grand 'Vijayadashami Mahotsav 2026' organised by the Shanti Seva Charitable Trust — a celebration that blended classical Gujarati folk art with one of Hinduism's most resonant annual rituals.
The CM extended Dussehra greetings to all, marking the occasion with warmth and festivity. In his post, he noted that the event featured a 'Sanatani Dayro' — a traditional Gujarati devotional gathering — alongside the Ravan Dahan ceremony, describing it as a 'sundar sangam' (beautiful confluence) of Sanatan Sanskriti and Indian tradition.
Sairam Dave and the evening's cultural heart
The cultural highlight of the evening was a performance by popular Gujarati artist Shri Sairam Dave and fellow performers, whose presentation brought the Sanatani Dayro format to vivid life. Dave is one of Gujarat's best-known folk and devotional entertainers, widely celebrated for his sharp wit and storytelling rooted in Gujarati cultural idiom. The Chief Minister specifically congratulated the organisers for what he called a 'sundar ayojan' — a beautiful programme.
Dussehra in Gujarat: scale and tradition
Dussehra, also known as Vijayadashami, marks the triumph of good over evil — most famously symbolised by Lord Ram's victory over the demon king Ravana. Gujarat has a long and well-established tradition of large-scale Ravan Dahan events, particularly in the wake of the Navratri season, which the state celebrates with perhaps greater public fervour than almost anywhere else in India.
For state leaders, attendance at such events is an established practice — a visible joining of official and public life during the festive calendar. CM Patel, who took office in 2021, has consistently made public appearances at major religious and cultural occasions across Gujarat throughout his tenure.
Point of View
High-profile participation in religious and cultural calendars reinforces identity-based connectivity with the electorate. Gujarat's Navratri-Dussehra season is arguably India's most politically freighted festive stretch for the BJP, given the state's role as the party's ideological heartland. The inclusion of a Sanatani Dayro — a format that fuses devotion, folk storytelling, and community belonging — signals an effort to frame cultural rootedness, not just electoral ritual. For Patel, whose public persona is quieter than his predecessor's, these appearances serve as soft but steady signals of continuity with Gujarat's BJP governance tradition.
NationPress
21 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Vijayadashami Mahotsav 2026 in Ahmedabad?
The 'Vijayadashami Mahotsav 2026' was a Dussehra celebration organised by the Shanti Seva Charitable Trust at Thaltej in Ahmedabad, featuring a Sanatani Dayro cultural performance and a Ravan Dahan ceremony on 20 October 2026.
Why did CM Bhupendra Patel attend the Dussehra event?
CM Bhupendra Patel attended to mark the Dussehra festival with the public, a practice common among Indian state leaders who join major religious and cultural occasions during the festive season.
What is a Sanatani Dayro?
A Sanatani Dayro is a traditional Gujarati devotional gathering that combines music, folk performance, and storytelling rooted in Sanatan (Hindu) cultural and spiritual traditions.
When did Bhupendra Patel become Gujarat Chief Minister?
Bhupendra Patel became Gujarat Chief Minister in 2021 and is a BJP leader known for continuing the party's tradition of active public participation in the state's religious and cultural events.
