CM Fadnavis visits Nagpur Navdurga mandal, prays for Maharashtra
Synopsis
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis visited the Navdurga Utsav Mandal in Nagpur on October 17, 2026, offering prayers for the welfare of all of Maharashtra on the occasion of Navratri.
Key Takeaways
CM Devendra Fadnavis visited the Navdurga Utsav Mandal in Nagpur on October 17, 2026 during Navratri.
He offered prayers at the feet of the Mother Goddess and sought her blessings for the welfare of all of Maharashtra .
Nagpur serves as Maharashtra's winter capital and is a major centre for Navratri celebrations.
Navratri is a nine-night Hindu festival dedicated to the worship of Goddess Durga and her nine forms.
BJP chief ministers routinely visit prominent Navratri mandals as part of both devotional practice and public outreach during the festival season.
On the occasion of Navratri, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis visited the Navdurga Utsav Mandal in Nagpur on Saturday, October 17, 2026, bowing before the goddess and offering prayers for the welfare of the entire state.
Sharing the visit on X, Fadnavis opened with a Sanskrit verse — 'ॐ देव्यै महादेव्यै शिवायै सततं नमः' ('Salutations always to the Goddess, the Great Goddess, the auspicious one') — before writing in Marathi that he had 'bowed at the feet of the Mother Goddess and prayed for the well-being of all of Maharashtra.'
Nagpur during Navratri: winter capital in festive full swing
Nagpur, Maharashtra's eastern city and its designated winter capital, is a significant hub for Navratri celebrations, with dozens of utsav mandals organising elaborate nine-night observances. The Navdurga Utsav Mandal is among the prominent community organisations that mount large-scale worship pandals during the festival period.
Navratri — the nine-night festival dedicated to the nine forms of Goddess Durga — is one of the most widely observed Hindu festivals across Maharashtra and the rest of India. For political figures, particularly those from the BJP, participation in these mandal visits is both a devotional act and a deeply rooted public engagement tradition during the festive calendar.
A CM's festive rounds: ritual, outreach, and continuity
State chief ministers in India have long made Navratri mandal visits a fixture of their public schedules. The practice cuts across party lines but holds particular weight for BJP leaders, for whom cultural and religious observance is closely woven into political identity. For Fadnavis, whose home constituency is Nagpur, the visit also carries the warmth of a homecoming during the state's most festive stretch.
With Navratri spanning nine nights, further visits by the Chief Minister to other mandals across Nagpur and Maharashtra are likely in the days ahead.
Point of View
Reinforcing grassroots connectivity during high-visibility festival periods. Nagpur, as both the CM's home turf and Maharashtra's winter capital, amplifies the symbolic weight of the gesture. The prayer 'for all of Maharashtra' signals an inclusive framing — a chief minister addressing the divine on behalf of citizens — that is as much political communication as personal devotion. As the festival continues, the cadence of such visits will be watched as a measure of the government's cultural outreach posture.
NationPress
18 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Which mandal did CM Fadnavis visit during Navratri 2026?
CM Devendra Fadnavis visited the Navdurga Utsav Mandal in Nagpur on October 17, 2026, on the occasion of Navratri.
What did Fadnavis pray for at the Navratri mandal?
Fadnavis prayed for the welfare and well-being of all of Maharashtra at the feet of the Mother Goddess.
Why is Nagpur significant for Navratri celebrations?
Nagpur is Maharashtra's winter capital and a major cultural hub, home to numerous utsav mandals that host large-scale nine-night Navratri observances.
What is Navratri and why do politicians visit mandals?
Navratri is a nine-night Hindu festival dedicated to Goddess Durga. Politicians, especially from the BJP, visit prominent mandals as both a devotional practice and a form of public engagement during the festival.
Is Devendra Fadnavis from Nagpur?
Yes, Devendra Fadnavis represents Nagpur as his home constituency and serves as Chief Minister of Maharashtra.
