Jal Shakti Minister CR Paatil Extends Dhanteras Wishes
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
As millions of homes across India light their first diyas ahead of Diwali, Union Jal Shakti Minister C. R. Paatil extended heartfelt Dhanteras greetings to the nation on Friday, 6 November 2026, invoking the blessings of both Lord Dhanvantari and Goddess Lakshmi.
Posting on X in Hindi, Paatil wrote: 'आरोग्य और समृद्धि के पावन पर्व धनतेरस पर समस्त देशवासियों को हार्दिक शुभकामनाएँ' — 'Heartfelt greetings to all fellow citizens on the auspicious festival of Dhanteras, the festival of health and prosperity.' He prayed that the blessings of Lord Dhanvantari bring good health and long life to all, and that the grace of Goddess Lakshmi kindle a lamp of happiness in every home.
Dhanteras: where health and wealth converge
Dhanteras falls on the thirteenth day of the Hindu month of Kartik and marks the formal opening of the five-day Diwali festival. The occasion is dedicated to Lord Dhanvantari — the divine physician in Hindu tradition, regarded as the originator of Ayurveda — making health and longevity its central themes alongside the more widely recognised wealth symbolism associated with Goddess Lakshmi.
The dual invocation of Dhanvantari and Lakshmi in Paatil's message reflects the festival's twin pillars: well-being and prosperity, a pairing that resonates with millions of Indian households who observe the day with rituals, new purchases, and prayers for the year ahead.
A BJP veteran's voice in the Diwali season
Paatil, a senior BJP leader and former president of the party's Gujarat state unit, now heads the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti, which oversees drinking water and sanitation across India. Festival greetings of this kind are a fixture of political public outreach during the Diwali season, allowing leaders to connect with constituents beyond policy announcements. No ministry-specific scheme or programme was linked to this message.