Union Health Minister and BJP national president J. P. Nadda extended greetings to the nation on the occasion of Devshayani (Ashadhi) Ekadashi on Saturday, 25 July 2026, marking the auspicious beginning of the Chaturmas period with a Sanskrit verse and a prayer for the well-being of all.

In his post on X, Nadda opened with a Sanskrit shloka — 'Supte tvayi jagannatha jagatsuptam bhavedidm. Vibuddhe tvayi budhyeta jagatsarvam characharam' — which translates to: 'When you sleep, O Lord of the Universe, the world sleeps; when you awaken, the entire creation, moving and unmoving, awakens.' The verse is a traditional invocation addressed to Lord Vishnu, whose cosmic slumber during Chaturmas is central to this observance.

Context

Devshayani Ekadashi, also known as Ashadhi Ekadashi, falls on the eleventh day (Ekadashi) of the bright fortnight of the Hindu month of Ashadha. According to Hindu tradition, this is the day on which Lord Shri Hari Vishnu — the preserver of the universe — enters a four-month cosmic sleep, a period observed as Chaturmas. Nadda invoked this belief directly, writing: 'May the merciful gaze of Lord Shri Hari Vishnu, the sustainer of the world, always remain upon you all.'

He also conveyed wishes for happiness, peace, prosperity, and spiritual advancement, describing the occasion as a 'punya avsar' (sacred opportunity) that marks the auspicious commencement of the holy Chaturmas.

Policy Backdrop

Indian political leaders across party lines routinely share greetings on significant Hindu festivals and religious observances through social media, acknowledging the cultural traditions of a large section of the electorate. For BJP leaders in particular, public participation in religious and cultural occasions has been a consistent feature of political communication.

Nadda, who holds the dual charge of Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare and Minister of Chemicals and Fertilizers alongside his role as BJP national president, has regularly used his official social media presence to engage with religious and cultural milestones throughout the calendar year. The post closed with the Vaishnava salutation 'Om Namo Narayanaya', a traditional invocation of Lord Vishnu.

Stakeholders and Impact

The message is directed at Hindu devotees and the broader Indian public for whom Devshayani Ekadashi holds religious significance. The Chaturmas period — spanning roughly four months from Ashadha Ekadashi to Kartik Ekadashi — is traditionally associated with intensified spiritual practice, fasting, and religious discourses across Vaishnavite, Shaiva, and Jain traditions.

Public figures extending such greetings serve to acknowledge the cultural fabric of the country, and such messaging is widely received by communities observing the festival across Maharashtra, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and other states where the occasion is celebrated with particular fervour.

What's Next

The commencement of Chaturmas is expected to be followed by a series of festival-related messages from ministers and public figures as the four-month religious season progresses. Key observances during this period include Nag Panchami, Raksha Bandhan, Janmashtami, Ganesh Chaturthi, and culminate with Kartik Ekadashi (Devuthani Ekadashi), when Lord Vishnu is believed to awaken from his cosmic slumber. Public events and religious programmes associated with Chaturmas are typically organised by religious institutions and community groups across India during this window.