Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary extended warm greetings to devotees across the state on the occasion of Devshayani Ekadashi, also known as Hari Shayani Ekadashi, on Saturday, 25 July 2026. In a post on X, the senior BJP leader invoked the blessings of Lord Vishnu and wished peace, prosperity, and well-being upon all faithful observers of the festival.

Context

Chief Minister Choudhary's message, written in Hindi, reads: 'Devshayani Ekadashi ke pawan avsar par aap sabhi shraddhaaluon ko hardik badhai evam shubhkamnaen' — ('Heartfelt congratulations and best wishes to all devotees on the sacred occasion of Devshayani Ekadashi'). He prayed that by the grace of Lord Shri Hari Vishnu, the lives of all be filled with happiness, peace, prosperity, and auspiciousness, closing with the invocation 'Jai Shri Hari'.

The post carried hashtags #DevshayaniEkadashi, #HariShayaniEkadashi, #LordVishnu, and #SanatanDharma, signalling its alignment with the broader Sanatan Hindu tradition.

Policy Backdrop

Devshayani Ekadashi marks the beginning of Chaturmas, the four-month period in the Hindu calendar during which Lord Vishnu is believed to enter a state of cosmic rest. The observance holds deep religious significance for millions of Hindu devotees across Bihar and the rest of India.

Senior BJP leaders and state functionaries have consistently used social media to issue greetings on Ekadashi and other Sanatan observances, a practice that forms a visible part of the party's public engagement with Hindu religious communities. For Bihar, a state with a large and devout Hindu population, such outreach carries both cultural and political resonance.

Stakeholders and Impact

The greeting is directed at Hindu devotees and residents of Bihar who observe Devshayani Ekadashi through fasting, prayer, and visits to Vishnu temples. The Chaturmas period that begins with this Ekadashi typically sees heightened religious activity, including discourses, community prayers, and temple events across the state.

For the broader Sanatan Dharma community, acknowledgement of the festival by the state's highest constitutional authority lends institutional recognition to the observance and reinforces the cultural calendar's place in public life.

What's Next

With Chaturmas now under way, Bihar is likely to see a series of religious and cultural programmes at temples and community centres through the coming months. State cultural bodies may organise events aligned with the Chaturmas calendar, and further festival greetings from the Chief Minister's office can be expected as the season progresses.