Kharge wishes Gujarat happy Bestu Varas, Vikram Samvat 2083 begins
Synopsis
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge rang in Bestu Varas with greetings on X as Gujarat marked the start of Vikram Samvat 2083. The day also saw Home Minister Amit Shah set a 2028 drug-free deadline for Gujarat and inaugurate an Ahmedabad health centre serving 80,000 people — blending festive occasion with political signalling.
Key Takeaways
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge posted Gujarati New Year greetings on X on 10 November 2026 .
Bestu Varas (Nutan Varsh) marks the start of Vikram Samvat 2083 per the traditional Gujarati calendar.
Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurated an Urban Primary Health Centre in Gota-Science City, Ahmedabad , set to serve 80,000 people including 46,700 slum residents.
Shah set 31 December 2028 as Gujarat's drug-free deadline — a year ahead of the Centre's national target of 31 December 2029 .
A dedicated drug-reporting helpline, 1033 , will go live in Gujarat from 1 December .
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday, 10 November 2026, extended warm greetings to the people of Gujarat on the occasion of the Gujarati New Year, popularly known as Bestu Varas or Nutan Varsh, marking the start of Vikram Samvat 2083 according to the traditional Gujarati calendar.
Kharge's Wishes on X
Posting on social media platform X, Kharge conveyed heartfelt wishes to the Gujarati community. In his post, the Congress President said: 'Happy New Year! Heartfelt wishes to all brothers and sisters of Gujarat for the Gujarati New Year. May the new year bring new hopes of happiness, peace, prosperity and progress into everyone's lives. Happy New Year.'
He expressed hope that the new year would usher in renewed optimism and joy for everyone across the state.
Significance of Bestu Varas
Bestu Varas holds deep cultural and religious importance for the Gujarati community. Celebrants mark the occasion by offering prayers, visiting temples, organising family gatherings, preparing festive meals, and exchanging greetings. The festival symbolises fresh starts, renewed resolutions, and collective hopes for a prosperous year ahead.
Development Initiatives in Gujarat
The occasion coincides with a series of public welfare activities in the state. Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah on Monday inaugurated an advanced library in Jodhpur Ward and an Urban Primary Health Centre in the Gota-Science City area of Ahmedabad. Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel was present at both ceremonies.
The newly opened health centre is expected to serve approximately 80,000 people across 17 surrounding localities, including nearly 46,700 residents of slum settlements — bringing essential healthcare closer to some of Ahmedabad's most underserved communities.
Shah Sets Drug-Free Gujarat Deadline
In a significant announcement, Home Minister Shah set 31 December 2028 as the deadline for making Gujarat drug-free — a full year ahead of the Centre's nationwide target of 31 December 2029. Addressing a public gathering in Ahmedabad, Shah announced that a dedicated helpline, 1033, would go operational in Gujarat from 1 December, allowing citizens to anonymously report the sale and consumption of narcotics.
As Gujarat celebrates the new year with prayers and family gatherings, the state's political calendar remains active, with both national and state leaders using the occasion to signal intent on governance and community welfare.
Point of View
And festive outreach on X is a low-cost way to signal presence. The more substantive news from the same day is Amit Shah's drug-free Gujarat deadline of 2028, which front-runs the Centre's own 2029 target and positions the BJP-ruled state as a governance trailblazer ahead of a cycle of state elections. Whether the 1033 helpline translates into enforcement outcomes, or remains an announcement, will be the real measure of that ambition.
NationPress
10 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Bestu Varas and when is it celebrated in 2026?
Bestu Varas, also called Nutan Varsh, is the Gujarati New Year celebrated on the first day of the month of Kartik according to the Vikram Samvat calendar. In 2026, it falls on Tuesday, 10 November, marking the start of Vikram Samvat 2083.
What did Mallikarjun Kharge post for the Gujarati New Year?
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge posted greetings on X wishing 'all brothers and sisters of Gujarat' happiness, peace, prosperity, and progress in the new year. He expressed hope that Bestu Varas would bring renewed optimism to everyone's lives.
What did Amit Shah inaugurate in Ahmedabad on the occasion?
Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurated an advanced library in Jodhpur Ward and an Urban Primary Health Centre in the Gota-Science City area of Ahmedabad. The health centre is expected to serve around 80,000 people across 17 areas, including nearly 46,700 slum residents.
What is Gujarat's drug-free deadline and how does it compare to the national target?
Home Minister Amit Shah set 31 December 2028 as the deadline for a drug-free Gujarat — one year ahead of the Centre's nationwide deadline of 31 December 2029. He also announced that a dedicated helpline, 1033, will become operational in Gujarat from 1 December for anonymous drug reporting.
How do Gujaratis celebrate Bestu Varas?
Gujaratis mark Bestu Varas by offering prayers, visiting temples, organising family gatherings, and exchanging greetings. The day is considered auspicious for new beginnings, renewed resolutions, and hopes for prosperity in the year ahead.
