Kishan Reddy extends Chhath Puja greetings to nation
Synopsis
Union Coal and Mines Minister G. Kishan Reddy extended bilingual Chhath Puja greetings on November 15, 2026, praying for peace, health, and prosperity for all devotees of Surya Dev and Chhathi Maiya.
Key Takeaways
Kishan Reddy , Union Minister of Coal and Mines and BJP Telangana state president, posted Chhath Puja greetings on November 15, 2026 .
The message was bilingual — in both English and Hindi — invoking blessings of Surya Dev and Chhathi Maiya .
Chhath Puja is primarily observed in Bihar , Jharkhand , eastern Uttar Pradesh , and parts of Nepal .
The festival centres on worship of the sun god through fasting, river rituals, and offerings of sacred water.
The post reflects a standard political practice of national leaders reaching out to diverse regional communities through major festival greetings.
On the auspicious occasion of Chhath Puja, Union Coal and Mines Minister G. Kishan Reddy extended heartfelt greetings to the nation on Sunday, November 15, 2026, invoking the blessings of Bhagwan Surya Dev and Chhathi Maiya for peace, health, and prosperity in every home.
Posting in both English and Hindi, the Minister wrote: 'आस्था, सूर्य उपासना और अटूट विश्वास के महापर्व छठ पूजा की आप सभी को हार्दिक शुभकामनाएं!' — 'Heartfelt greetings to all on the great festival of Chhath Puja, a celebration of faith, sun worship, and unshakeable belief!' He closed with the salutation 'छठी मैया की जय' — 'Victory to Chhathi Maiya.'
Chhath Puja: a festival rooted in eastern India
Chhath Puja is one of Hinduism's most demanding and deeply revered festivals, dedicated to Surya Dev, the sun god, and Chhathi Maiya, his consort. Observed primarily in Bihar, Jharkhand, eastern Uttar Pradesh, and parts of Nepal, the festival involves rigorous fasting, ritual bathing in rivers, and the offering of arghya — sacred water — to the rising and setting sun. It carries profound cultural identity for communities from these regions, many of whom observe it far from home across India and the world.
BJP's outreach to eastern India's cultural heartland
As BJP Telangana state president and a senior Union Minister, Reddy's public greeting reflects a broader pattern of national political leaders acknowledging major regional festivals — a signal of cultural respect to communities whose electoral and social weight spans far beyond their home states. Chhath carries particular resonance given the large diaspora of Bihari and Jharkhandi communities settled across metropolitan India. The message, bilingual and pitched with religious warmth, is squarely aimed at that audience.
Point of View
Maintaining visible warmth toward this community is a long-standing electoral and social strategy. Reddy's bilingual post, blending Sanskrit invocation with Hindi devotion, signals attentiveness to both the devout and the politically engaged. Such gestures, routine in form, carry cumulative weight in coalition politics.
NationPress
15 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Chhath Puja and when is it celebrated?
Chhath Puja is a Hindu festival dedicated to Surya Dev (the sun god) and Chhathi Maiya, observed primarily in Bihar, Jharkhand, eastern Uttar Pradesh, and Nepal. It typically falls in October or November, in the Kartik month of the Hindu calendar.
Who is G. Kishan Reddy?
G. Kishan Reddy is India's Union Minister of Coal and Mines and the president of the BJP's Telangana state unit. He is a senior leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party.
Why did G. Kishan Reddy post Chhath Puja greetings?
As a senior national leader, Kishan Reddy extended greetings in keeping with the standard practice of Indian political figures acknowledging major regional festivals, particularly those with large diaspora communities across India.
What does 'Chhathi Maiya ki jai' mean?
'Chhathi Maiya ki jai' translates to 'Victory to Chhathi Maiya' — a traditional salutation to the goddess associated with Chhath Puja, believed to be the sixth form of Devi and a consort of Surya Dev.
Which states celebrate Chhath Puja the most?
Chhath Puja is most intensely celebrated in Bihar, Jharkhand, and eastern Uttar Pradesh, as well as parts of Nepal. Due to large-scale migration, the festival is now widely observed in Delhi, Mumbai, and other major Indian cities as well.
