CM Samrat Choudhary Offers Netra Puja at Thakurbari on Maha Saptami

Key Takeaways

Samrat Choudhary visited Thakurbari, Gardanibagh, Patna on Maha Saptami, 17 October 2026 for Netra Puja.

He sought Maa Jagdamba's blessings specifically for Bihar's prosperity and development .

Thakurbari is one of Patna's most prominent Durga temples, central to the city's annual Navratri calendar.

Netra Puja on Saptami is a key ritual marking the ceremonial awakening of the goddess's eyes.

CM Choudhary, in office since 2024 , has consistently linked religious observance with his Bihar development messaging.

On the sacred occasion of Maha Saptami, Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary visited the historic Thakurbari temple complex in Gardanibagh, Patna, to perform the ritual Netra Puja of Goddess Durga — seeking the divine mother's blessings for Bihar's prosperity and development.

Sharing the moment on Saturday, 17 October 2026, the Chief Minister wrote: 'Mahasaptami par Thakurbari, Gardanibagh mein Maa Durga ka netra pujan kar Maa Jagdamba se Bihar ki khushhaali evam samridhi ka aashirvaad maanga.' — 'On Maha Saptami, I performed the Netra Puja of Maa Durga at Thakurbari, Gardanibagh, and sought Maa Jagdamba's blessings for the happiness and prosperity of Bihar.' He signed off with the phrase: 'Maa ka aashish, Bihar ka vikas' — 'Mother's blessings, Bihar's development.'

Thakurbari's Place in Patna's Navratri Calendar

Thakurbari in Gardanibagh is among Patna's most revered Durga temple complexes, drawing thousands of devotees through the nine nights of Navratri each year. The Netra Puja, performed on Saptami — the seventh day — holds special ritual significance: it is the moment the goddess's eyes are ceremonially opened, symbolically awakening her presence for the final days of the festival.

Faith, Governance, and the Bihar Development Message

Chief Ministers across India have long made festival participation a visible part of their public calendar, and Samrat Choudhary — who assumed office in 2024 — has continued that tradition with a consistent Bihar-development frame. By linking the divine blessing directly to the state's welfare, the post weaves together religious sentiment and governance aspiration in the idiom Bihar's political culture understands best.

With the major Ashtami and Navami celebrations still ahead, Durga Puja festivities across Patna will build through the coming days before the immersion processions bring the season to a close. The Chief Minister's Thakurbari visit sets the tone for state leadership's continued visible presence through the festival's peak.

Point of View

Bihar ka vikas' formulation is not incidental — it fuses religious legitimacy with governance promise in a single line. For a Chief Minister consolidating his position since 2024, visible festival engagement at high-footfall sites like Thakurbari functions as both a cultural statement and a soft outreach exercise ahead of the rest of the Puja season.

NationPress

17 Oct 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Netra Puja in Durga Puja?

Netra Puja is a ritual performed on Maha Saptami — the seventh day of Navratri — in which the eyes of the Goddess Durga idol are ceremonially opened or painted, symbolically awakening her presence for the final days of the festival.

Where is Thakurbari, Gardanibagh located?

Thakurbari is a historic Durga temple complex located in the Gardanibagh neighbourhood of Patna, Bihar, and is one of the city's most prominent sites for Navratri celebrations.

Who is Samrat Choudhary?

Samrat Choudhary is the Chief Minister of Bihar and a senior BJP leader who assumed office in 2024.

What did Bihar CM Samrat Choudhary do on Maha Saptami 2026?

Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary performed the Netra Puja of Goddess Durga at the Thakurbari temple in Gardanibagh, Patna, and sought blessings for Bihar's prosperity and development.

When is Maha Saptami in 2026?

Maha Saptami in 2026 fell on Saturday, 17 October, the seventh day of the Navratri festival dedicated to Goddess Durga.