CM Vishnu Deo Sai joins Raipur Dussehra, invokes Ram's ideals

Key Takeaways

CM Vishnu Deo Sai personally attended Dussehra celebrations in Raipur on Vijayadashami, October 21, 2026 .

He opened his post with a classical Sanskrit verse equating the name 'Ram' to a thousand sacred names.

Sai described himself as a sakshi (witness) to the festival's message of truth over falsehood and dharma over adharma.

He invoked Maryada Purushottam Prabhu Shri Ram as an eternal source of inspiration for citizens to follow truth, dharma, and duty.

Raipur hosts one of Chhattisgarh's most prominent annual public Dussehra observances each year.

On the auspicious occasion of Vijayadashami 2026, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai joined the public Dussehra celebrations in Raipur — marking the festival as a living symbol of truth's victory over falsehood and dharma's triumph over adharma.

Opening his post with the ancient Vedic verse — 'राम रामेति रामेति, रमे रामे मनोरमे। सहस्रनाम तत्तुल्यं, रामनाम वरानने॥' ('Chanting Ram, Ram, Ram, the mind revels in the divine Ram; this single name is equal to a thousand sacred names') — CM Sai framed his participation not merely as a ceremonial duty but as a moment of personal devotion and public witness.

A capital city's festival and a CM's testimony

Raipur, the capital of Chhattisgarh, hosts one of the state's most prominent annual Dussehra observances. Chief Minister Sai's presence at the event placed the state's top executive at the centre of a tradition that blends civic participation with cultural reverence. He described himself as a 'sakshi' — a witness — to the sacred festival, underscoring the personal register of the occasion alongside its public dimension. Sai invoked the example of Maryada Purushottam Prabhu Shri Ram — Ram as the ideal upholder of dignity — expressing hope that Lord Ram's ideals would continually inspire citizens to walk the path of truth, dharma, and duty.

Vijayadashami as political and cultural ritual

Across India, state chief ministers and senior leaders have long used Vijayadashami to publicly affirm cultural and religious values — a tradition that carries both devotional and political resonance. For a BJP chief minister in a state where Hindu cultural identity is a significant social force, the Dussehra platform is both a community moment and a statement of governing philosophy. CM Sai's post, layered with scriptural verse and the language of dharma, fits that pattern while remaining anchored in the festival's own timeless message. Chhattisgarh's Dussehra celebrations draw wide public participation each year, and the Chief Minister's attendance signals the state government's continued investment in the state's cultural calendar.

Point of View

The 'Ram as ideal' framing also serves a subtle unifying function. The post is light on policy but heavy on the symbolic grammar that defines BJP's cultural communication strategy at the state level.

NationPress

21 Oct 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

Where did CM Vishnu Deo Sai celebrate Dussehra 2026?

CM Vishnu Deo Sai attended the Dussehra celebrations organised in Raipur , the capital of Chhattisgarh, on Vijayadashami, October 21, 2026 .

What did Vishnu Deo Sai say on Vijayadashami 2026?

He shared a Sanskrit verse praising the name of Lord Ram and expressed the hope that Ram's ideals would inspire all citizens to walk the path of truth, dharma, and duty.

What is Vijayadashami and why is it celebrated?

Vijayadashami, also known as Dussehra, is a Hindu festival that marks the victory of truth over falsehood and dharma over adharma — most widely associated with Lord Ram's defeat of Ravana.

Who is Vishnu Deo Sai?

Vishnu Deo Sai is the Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh and a BJP leader who was sworn in after the 2023 Chhattisgarh assembly elections .

What is the significance of the Sanskrit verse CM Sai quoted?

The verse — 'राम रामेति रामेति...' — is a classical Vedic hymn stating that chanting the name of Ram is equivalent in spiritual merit to reciting a thousand sacred names of Vishnu.