CM Samrat Choudhary offers Mahanavami prayers in Patna
Synopsis
Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary offered Mahanavami prayers at the Durga Puja pandal at Dakbungalow Chowraha and the Kaali Mandir at Baans Ghat in Patna on 19 October 2026, praying for the peace and prosperity of all Biharis.
Key Takeaways
Bihar CM Samrat Choudhary observed Mahanavami with prayers at two prominent Patna locations on 19 October 2026 .
He visited the Durga Puja pandal at Dakbungalow Chowraha and the Kaali Mandir at Baans Ghat .
He recited the ancient Sanskrit Saptashati verse honouring the divine mother in her many forms.
His prayers were specifically dedicated to the happiness, peace, and prosperity of all Bihar residents .
The visit follows the established tradition of senior Bihar leaders participating in major public religious observances during Navratri.
On the auspicious ninth day of Navratri, Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary stepped into two of Patna's most prominent sacred spaces on Monday, 19 October 2026, offering prayers for the peace, happiness, and prosperity of every resident of the state.
The Chief Minister visited the Durga Puja pandal at Dakbungalow Chowraha in Patna to offer worship to Maa Durga, before proceeding to the Kaali Mandir at Baans Ghat for prayers to Maa Bhagwati. He invoked the ancient Saptashati verse — 'Jayanti Mangala Kaali Bhadrakaali Kapaalini, Durga Kshama Shiva Dhaatri Swaahaa Swadhaa Namostu te' — a Sanskrit salutation honouring the many forms of the divine mother.
Mahanavami and its significance in Bihar's Navratri calendar
Mahanavami, the ninth and penultimate day of Navratri, is considered one of the most sacred days in the festival cycle. It is the day on which devotees make final, grand offerings to Goddess Durga before the immersion of her idol on Vijayadashami. In Bihar and across eastern India, large community pandals become centres of public life during this period, drawing enormous footfall from all sections of society.
Dakbungalow Chowraha is one of Patna's most recognised intersections, and its Durga Puja pandal draws thousands of devotees each year. Baans Ghat, located along the Ganga, is home to a historic Kaali temple that holds deep significance for the city's residents.
A chief minister in the crowd — and what it signals
Senior elected officials participating in Navratri observances is a well-established tradition in Bihar's political culture. Chief ministers and senior leaders visiting pandals and temples during the festival signals solidarity with cultural life on the ground — connecting the office to the everyday rhythm of the people it governs. For Choudhary, a senior BJP leader, such public appearances during major Hindu festivals are a visible expression of both personal faith and civic engagement.
His prayer, he posted, was singular in its intent: the well-being of every Bihari. Simple. Direct. Unambiguous.
Point of View
Where public religious participation is treated as both personal conviction and political outreach. Bihar's substantial Hindu majority and the state's deep tradition of Shakti worship make Navratri pandal visits a high-visibility civic act. For a CM who came to office on a platform closely tied to the BJP's Hindutva identity, these moments are not incidental — they are part of a deliberate effort to be seen as a chief minister of the streets, not just the secretariat. The consistency of such appearances across the festival calendar reinforces his accessibility narrative ahead of any future electoral cycle.
NationPress
19 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Where did Bihar CM Samrat Choudhary offer Mahanavami prayers in 2026?
He offered prayers at the Durga Puja pandal at Dakbungalow Chowraha and at the Kaali Mandir at Baans Ghat, both in Patna, on 19 October 2026.
What Sanskrit verse did CM Samrat Choudhary post on Mahanavami?
He posted the verse 'Jayanti Mangala Kaali Bhadrakaali Kapaalini, Durga Kshama Shiva Dhaatri Swaahaa Swadhaa Namostu te', a Saptashati salutation honouring the many forms of the divine mother.
Who is Samrat Choudhary?
Samrat Choudhary is a senior BJP leader and the Chief Minister of Bihar.
What is the Dakbungalow Chowraha Durga Puja pandal in Patna?
Dakbungalow Chowraha is one of Patna's most recognised intersections, and its Durga Puja pandal is a major public celebration site that draws thousands of devotees during Navratri each year.
