MP CM Mohan Yadav to Lead State Shastra Puja in Indore
Synopsis
Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav will lead the state-level Shastra Puja ceremony in Indore on Vijayadashami, 20 October 2026, upholding a centuries-old tradition of weapon worship on Dussehra as an act of cultural and martial heritage observed by governments and uniformed services across India.
Key Takeaways
Mohan Yadav , Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, will serve as chief guest at the state-level Shastra Puja ceremony on 20 October 2026 .
The event is being held in Indore , Madhya Pradesh's largest city and a frequent venue for state-level official programmes.
The ceremony falls on Vijayadashami (Dussehra) , the Hindu festival marking the victory of good over evil, when weapon worship is traditionally performed.
The Department of Culture and Religious Trusts Department of Madhya Pradesh are co-organising the programme alongside the Chief Minister's Office.
State-level Shastra Puja events have been a long-standing institutional tradition observed by governments and uniformed services across India on Dussehra.
On the auspicious occasion of Vijayadashami 2026, the streets of Indore will witness a declaration — not of war, but of heritage. The Chief Minister's Office of Madhya Pradesh has announced that Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav will preside as chief guest at the state-level Shastra Puja (weapon worship) ceremony on 20 October 2026, carrying forward a martial tradition that stretches back centuries.
The official post captured the spirit of the occasion in crisp Hindi: 'Shaurya ka vandan, shakti ka samman' — 'Saluting valour, honouring strength.' The event is framed as a Rajyastareey Shastra Pujan Karyakram, a state-level ceremonial programme centred on the Dussehra ritual of venerating weapons as symbols of the victory of righteousness over evil.
Why Indore, and Why This Ritual Matters
Indore, Madhya Pradesh's largest and most commercially vibrant city, regularly serves as the stage for the state's flagship cultural and official events. Hosting the Shastra Puja here gives the ceremony a broad civic audience — well beyond the corridors of Bhopal.
The tradition of weapon worship on Vijayadashami draws from ancient epic traditions and is observed across India by uniformed services — police, armed forces, and paramilitary units — who formally honour their arms on this day. The symbolism is layered: Vijayadashami marks the triumph of Lord Rama over Ravana, and historically it was the day warriors would set out on campaigns after seeking divine blessings on their weapons.
A Ritual That State Governments Across India Uphold
Indian state governments have organised public Dussehra celebrations and Shastra Puja events for decades as institutional affirmations of martial and cultural heritage. Madhya Pradesh has maintained this pattern under successive administrations, with the Department of Culture and the Religious Trusts Department co-ordinating the logistics alongside the Chief Minister's Office.
Dr. Mohan Yadav, who has led the state since December 2023 under the Bharatiya Janata Party, has consistently positioned his government's cultural calendar around major Hindu festivals. Today's event continues that arc — a chief minister on a public stage, flanked by the symbolism of Dussehra, in a city that watches.
Valour celebrated today in Indore; the question now is how many districts across Madhya Pradesh echo the same ceremony before the festival sun sets.
Point of View
The BJP-led state administration has systematically elevated major Hindu festivals as official state occasions, aligning with the party's broader cultural-nationalist governance narrative. Institutionalising such ceremonies at the state level also serves to associate the government with a tradition that carries deep resonance among uniformed services and devout Hindu voters alike. Whether this remains a cultural observance or edges further into political symbolism will depend on how the event is stage-managed on the day.
NationPress
20 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Shastra Puja on Dussehra?
Shastra Puja is the ritual worship of weapons performed on Vijayadashami (Dussehra) as part of an ancient tradition in which warriors, uniformed services, and devotees seek divine blessings on their arms, marking the festival's symbolism of the victory of good over evil.
Where is the Madhya Pradesh state-level Shastra Puja 2026 being held?
The state-level Rajyastareey Shastra Pujan Karyakram for 2026 is being held in Indore , Madhya Pradesh's largest city, on 20 October 2026 .
Who is presiding over the MP Shastra Puja event?
Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav is the chief guest and presiding figure at the state-level ceremony in Indore on Vijayadashami 2026.
Which departments are organising the Dussehra ceremony in Madhya Pradesh?
The programme is being co-organised by the Chief Minister's Office , the Madhya Pradesh Department of Culture , and the Religious Trusts Department of the state government.
Why do Indian state governments hold official Dussehra and Shastra Puja events?
State governments across India have organised public Dussehra and Shastra Puja programmes for decades as institutional affirmations of martial and cultural heritage, with uniformed services formally honouring their arms as part of the Vijayadashami tradition.
