Faith, fire, and festivity came together in Limbayat, Surat, as Union Jal Shakti Minister C. R. Paatil attended the 'Jhankar Navratri Mahotsav-2026' — a Ravan Dahan celebration jointly organised by the Limbayat Utsav Samiti and Youth for Gujarat on Wednesday, 21 October 2026.

Sharing his presence and greetings with attendees, Paatil reflected on the festival's deeper message, writing in Gujarati: 'Asatya par satya ane adharma par dharmano vijay e aapani sanskriti no shashvat sandesh chhe' — 'The victory of truth over falsehood and righteousness over unrighteousness is the eternal message of our culture.' It is a sentiment as old as the Ramayana itself, distilled every year in the arc of a burning effigy.

Connecting youth to cultural roots in Surat

Paatil underscored the social function of such celebrations, noting that festivals like these strengthen faith, unity, and goodwill in society while connecting the new generation to India's cultural heritage. He offered prayers to Maa Jagdamba and Prabhu Shri Ram for happiness, peace, and prosperity in every household, and extended congratulations to the organisers and volunteers for putting together what he called a 'beautiful event'.

Limbayat is a densely populated locality within Surat, one of Gujarat's fastest-growing urban centres. Navratri, the nine-night festival honouring the goddess Durga in her many forms, is celebrated with particular fervour across Gujarat — and Ravan Dahan on Dussehra night marks its dramatic culmination. The pairing of a community Garba and Navratri committee with a youth organisation like Youth for Gujarat points to a deliberate effort to blend tradition with civic energy among younger residents.

BJP leaders and the Navratri circuit in Gujarat

Senior BJP figures routinely mark the Navratri and Dussehra season with public appearances at local celebrations across Gujarat, using the occasions to engage directly with constituents on familiar, celebratory ground. For Paatil — a stalwart of Gujarat BJP who served as the state party president before his elevation to the Union Cabinet — appearances in Surat carry a particular resonance: the city has long been a stronghold of his political base.

The four images shared alongside the post showed Paatil at the event alongside organisers and crowds, the kind of ground-level imagery that underlines the personal connect these festival visits are designed to project.

As Dussehra celebrations wrap up across the country, the BJP's cultural calendar in Gujarat is far from over — and Paatil's presence at Limbayat signals that the party's senior leadership intends to stay visible through every stage of the festive season.