CM Mohan Yadav offers Mahanavami prayers at Ujjain's Kali Bari
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
On the auspicious ninth day of Navratri, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav visited the Kali Bari Temple in Bengali Colony, Ujjain, on Monday, October 19, 2026, to seek the blessings of Goddess Kali and pray for the happiness, prosperity, and well-being of the people of Madhya Pradesh.
Opening with the Sanskrit verse 'Kali Kali Mahakali Kalike Parameshwari, Sarvanandakari Devi Narayani Namostute' — a devotional invocation to the Goddess as the supreme divine mother who bestows universal joy — Dr. Yadav shared the moment with warmth and reverence. He concluded with the traditional cry 'Jai Mata Di!'Kali Bari Temple and Ujjain's Bengali community
The Kali Bari Temple in Bengali Colony, Ujjain, is a significant centre of worship for the city's Bengali community, dedicated to Goddess Kali. Ujjain itself is one of India's most storied religious cities — home to the Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga and a site of ancient spiritual heritage. The Kali Bari, rooted in the devotional traditions that Bengali settlers carried with them, adds another thread to the city's rich religious fabric.
Mahanavami — the ninth and final day of Navratri — holds special significance across India, marking the culmination of nine nights of worship of the divine feminine. For devotees of Goddess Kali and Durga, it is a day of deep prayer, ritual, and communal celebration before Vijayadashami.
A CM reaching across communities in a sacred city
Chief Ministers visiting temples and engaging with diverse religious communities during major festivals is a well-established tradition in Indian public life. By choosing the Kali Bari — a temple with roots in Bengal's devotional culture — Dr. Yadav extended his Navratri observances beyond the dominant local traditions, sending a gesture of inclusion toward Ujjain's Bengali community.
Dr. Yadav, who assumed office in December 2023, has made Ujjain — a city that anchors much of Madhya Pradesh's spiritual identity — a frequent backdrop for public engagements. His prayer on Mahanavami for the prosperity of all pradeshvasi (residents of the state) underlines the occasion's dual character: personal devotion and public duty, woven together.
As the festival moves toward Vijayadashami, the day that traditionally marks the triumph of good over evil, the Chief Minister's visit closes Navratri on a note of unity and communal goodwill.