Khattar extends Mahanavami greetings, prays to Maa Siddhidatri
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
On the ninth and most sacred day of Navratri, Union Power Minister Manohar Lal Khattar offered prayers to Maa Siddhidatri — the ninth manifestation of Goddess Durga — and extended warm wishes to devotees across the country on Monday, 19 October 2026.
Posting in Hindi on X, Khattar opened with a Sanskrit shloka in reverence: 'Vishwakartri Vishwabhartri Vishwahartri Vishwaprita' — ('Creator of the universe, sustainer of the world, destroyer of evil, beloved of all') — before invoking the goddess's blessings for every household. 'May every home be filled with prosperity,' he wrote, 'may new flowers of happiness, abundance, and good fortune bloom, may all be well, may all wishes be fulfilled.'
Maa Siddhidatri: the ninth form worshipped on Mahanavami
Mahanavami marks the culmination of the nine-night Navratri festival, dedicated to the nine forms of Goddess Durga. The ninth form, Siddhidatri — literally 'the granter of all siddhis (divine powers)' — is worshipped as the ultimate bestower of spiritual fulfilment. Khattar's post underscores the devotional intensity of the final day, when millions of Hindus perform havan (sacred fire rituals) and kanya pujan (worship of young girls as embodiments of the goddess).
A festival message in a familiar political tradition
Festival greetings on social media have become a fixture of Indian political communication, particularly among BJP leaders who frequently weave devotional and cultural themes into their public messaging. Khattar, a senior BJP figure and former Chief Minister of Haryana now serving as Union Minister of Power and Housing & Urban Affairs, has long maintained this practice across his digital platforms. The gesture, simple on its surface, reaches millions of followers at the emotional peak of one of Hinduism's most widely observed festivals.