CM Fadnavis joins Navratri Raas-Garba celebrations in Nagpur

Key Takeaways

CM Devendra Fadnavis visited a Navratri Raas-Garba event in central Nagpur on 18 October 2026 .

The event was jointly organised by Aamdaar Sanskrutik Mahotsav, Madhya Nagpur and the Mahila Jagruti Jankalyan Bahuddeshhiya Sanstha .

The festival was dedicated specifically to women, in observance of Aashwin Navratri 2026 .

Nagpur serves as Maharashtra's winter capital and is Fadnavis's political home base.

BJP leaders, including Fadnavis, have a long-standing tradition of attending Navratri community events as part of festive-season public outreach.

Colour, devotion, and community spirit filled central Nagpur on the evening of 18 October 2026, as Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis visited a Raas-Garba festival organised for women during the ongoing Aashwin Navratri season.

The event was hosted by the Aamdaar Sanskrutik Mahotsav, Madhya Nagpur in association with the Mahila Jagruti Jankalyan Bahuddeshhiya Sanstha — a women's welfare organisation — to mark the nine-night festival that honours the goddess in her many forms. Fadnavis shared his visit with the greeting 'Mahalakshmi Jagdamba Mata ki Jai' ('Victory to Mother Mahalakshmi Jagdamba'), signalling the devotional register of the occasion. Nagpur, the winter capital of Maharashtra and the political home ground of the Chief Minister, has long been a hub for large-scale Navratri gatherings. Fadnavis has maintained a consistent presence at community cultural events across the city throughout his political career, and appearances at Garba and Raas programmes during the festive season have become a regular feature of the BJP-led government's public outreach calendar. Navratri — celebrated with Garba and Raas dances — is among the most widely observed festivals in Maharashtra and Gujarat, drawing participation from thousands of families every year. Women's welfare bodies organising dedicated Raas-Garba evenings reflect a broader trend of community groups reclaiming the festival as a space for collective celebration and social bonding, particularly for women.

Point of View

Particularly in stronghold constituencies. For a Chief Minister whose political base is rooted in Nagpur, such appearances reinforce cultural affinity with a core voter bloc. The choice of a women's welfare organisation as host also allows the optics of grassroots gender outreach without a formal policy announcement. More broadly, it reflects how modern Indian political leaders treat the festive calendar as an extension of the campaign and governance calendar.

NationPress

19 Oct 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did CM Fadnavis attend the Navratri Garba event in Nagpur?

CM Devendra Fadnavis attended the event as part of community outreach during the Aashwin Navratri festival season, supporting a Raas-Garba programme organised specifically for women by a local welfare body in central Nagpur.

Who organised the Navratri Raas-Garba festival in Nagpur in 2026?

The event was organised by Aamdaar Sanskrutik Mahotsav, Madhya Nagpur in association with the Mahila Jagruti Jankalyan Bahuddeshhiya Sanstha, a women's welfare organisation.

What is Navratri and how is it celebrated in Maharashtra?

Navratri is a nine-night Hindu festival honouring the goddess, celebrated widely in Maharashtra with Raas and Garba dances, devotional singing, and community gatherings, typically falling in September or October.

Is Nagpur significant for CM Fadnavis?

Yes. Nagpur is Maharashtra's winter capital and has been Fadnavis's political home ground throughout his career, making it a key location for his public appearances and community engagements.

Does CM Fadnavis regularly attend cultural festivals in Nagpur?

Fadnavis has maintained a consistent and visible presence at Nagpur's cultural programmes, and attending Navratri Garba events is a recognised part of his festive-season public schedule.