CM Nayab Saini attends Bhagwat Katha in Chandigarh, hails B Praak
Synopsis
Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini briefly attended a Shrimad Bhagwat Katha in Chandigarh featuring renowned kathavachak Indresh Upadhyay and singer B Praak, and expressed hope for the event to become an annual tradition.
Key Takeaways
Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini attended a Shrimad Bhagwat Katha event in Chandigarh on October 22, 2026 .
Renowned kathavachak Indresh Upadhyay was the central speaker at the religious gathering.
Popular singer B Praak performed at the event and received a public congratulation from the Chief Minister.
Saini had to leave early due to official commitments, but called divine service and public service 'complementary to each other.' The CM expressed a wish for the Shrimad Bhagwat Katha to be held annually in Chandigarh .
Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini made a brief but heartfelt appearance at a Shrimad Bhagwat Katha event in Chandigarh on Thursday, October 22, expressing his wish to have stayed longer to hear the revered storyteller Indresh Upadhyay — but noting that pressing duties called him away early.
Writing in Hindi, Saini said he had long wished to listen to the katha from the 'shrimukh' (blessed lips) of the renowned Indresh Upadhyay, a kathavachak celebrated across India for his public narrations of the Shrimad Bhagwat. Duty, however, intervened. 'Busyness required an early departure,' he wrote — adding that 'Prabhu seva aur jan seva ek-doosre ke poorak hain' (divine service and public service are complementary to each other).
A celebration of devotion — and a singer's surprise
The event also featured a performance by popular Indian singer B Praak, widely known for his emotionally resonant devotional and playback work. Saini publicly congratulated the artist and extended gratitude to the organising religious figure — referred to as Pujya Maharaj Ji — for putting together what he called a 'puneet aayojan' (sacred gathering).
Saini's wish: an annual Bhagwat Katha for Chandigarh
The Chief Minister closed his post with a blessing and an aspiration: that the Shrimad Bhagwat Katha be organised in Chandigarh every year, allowing devotees to benefit from spiritual knowledge and devotion to the divine. It is a sentiment that places Chandigarh — a Union Territory — at the centre of a hoped-for annual tradition, one that fuses cultural programming with public religious life.
State leaders across India routinely acknowledge such events, often using the occasion to draw a philosophical link between governance and spiritual duty. Saini's post fits that pattern squarely — but the specific public expression of wishing for an annual edition gives it a quietly forward-looking edge.
Point of View
Signalling continuity between spiritual identity and administrative stewardship. The inclusion of B Praak, a mainstream artist with a large popular following, also suggests the event was designed to bridge traditional religious audiences and younger devotees. Whether the 'annual' ambition translates into an officially backed event remains to be seen, but the public endorsement from a sitting Chief Minister carries institutional weight.
NationPress
22 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Indresh Upadhyay?
Indresh Upadhyay is a renowned Indian kathavachak known for delivering public narrations of the Shrimad Bhagwat at religious events across the country.
Why did CM Nayab Singh Saini leave the Bhagwat Katha event early?
CM Nayab Singh Saini stated in his post that official commitments and busyness required him to depart from the event earlier than he would have wished.
Who is B Praak and why was he at the Chandigarh Bhagwat Katha?
B Praak is a popular Indian singer recognised for devotional and playback music. He performed at the Shrimad Bhagwat Katha event in Chandigarh , for which CM Saini publicly congratulated him.
What did CM Saini wish for regarding the Chandigarh Bhagwat Katha?
CM Nayab Singh Saini expressed hope that the Shrimad Bhagwat Katha be organised in Chandigarh every year so that devotees can benefit from spiritual knowledge and devotion.
What is Shrimad Bhagwat Katha?
The Shrimad Bhagwat Katha is a traditional Hindu religious discourse based on the Bhagavata Purana , typically narrated over several days by a trained kathavachak and attended by devotees seeking spiritual merit.
