Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini attended the 'Shri Sundarkand Parayan evam Pravachan' programme in Kurukshetra on Friday, June 5, 2026, organised by the Akhand Geeta Peeth Shashwat Seva Ashram Trust, where he received the blessings of revered Mahamandaleshwar Dr Swami Shashwatanand Giri Ji Maharaj.

Context

Saini shared the occasion on X, writing that he 'परम पूज्य महामंडलेश्वर डॉ स्वामी शाश्वतानंद गिरी जी महाराज का आशीर्वाद प्राप्त किया' — 'received the blessings of the most revered Mahamandaleshwar Dr Swami Shashwatanand Giri Ji Maharaj.' He also noted that he prayed to Lord Bajrang Bali for the welfare, happiness, prosperity, and continuous progress of the people of the state.

The Sundarkand Parayan is a public recitation and discourse drawn from the Sundarkand chapter of the Ramayana, which centres on the deeds of Lord Hanuman. Such programmes draw large gatherings of devotees and are considered spiritually significant across Hindu traditions.

Policy Backdrop

Kurukshetra holds a unique place in Hindu heritage as the city where the Bhagavad Gita is believed to have been delivered and where the events of the Mahabharata unfolded. Successive Haryana governments have invested in religious tourism and heritage infrastructure centred on this historic city.

The Akhand Geeta Peeth Shashwat Seva Ashram Trust is a Kurukshetra-based spiritual organisation that regularly organises religious recitations and discourses, including Sundarkand programmes, contributing to the city's standing as a living centre of Hindu religious activity.

Stakeholders and Impact

For Haryana's large community of Hindu devotees, the Chief Minister's presence at such an event signals state-level recognition of religious and cultural traditions. Saini's public prayer for the 'welfare and prosperity' of the state's residents carries both a spiritual and a symbolic political message.

Indian state leaders, particularly from the BJP, routinely participate in major Hindu religious programmes at pilgrimage sites, maintaining public visibility while affirming cultural continuity. Saini, who took office in March 2024 succeeding Manohar Lal Khattar, has continued this established pattern of official outreach through religious engagement.

What's Next

The Chief Minister's visit to Kurukshetra may be followed by state announcements related to heritage conservation, religious tourism infrastructure, or further cultural programmes in the 2026-27 calendar. Kurukshetra's profile as a pilgrimage and heritage destination continues to attract policy attention from the state government.