Nadda offers Durga puja in Bilaspur on Vijayadashami
Synopsis
Union Health Minister and BJP president J. P. Nadda joined his family for Durga puja and idol-immersion rituals in Bilaspur, Himachal Pradesh, on Vijayadashami, praying for the health and prosperity of all Indians.
Key Takeaways
Nadda , Union Health Minister and BJP national president, observed Vijayadashami in his home state of Himachal Pradesh .
The event took place in Bilaspur on 20 October 2026 , the concluding day of Sharadiya Navratri .
Nadda participated with family in both Durga puja worship and the pratima visarjan (idol-immersion) ceremony.
He invoked Maa Durga's blessings for a 'happy, healthy, and prosperous life' for all Indians and Himachal Pradesh residents.
The post was accompanied by 4 images from the festivities shared on X.
On the auspicious close of Sharadiya Navratri and the occasion of Vijayadashami, Union Health Minister J. P. Nadda joined his family in Bilaspur, Himachal Pradesh on Tuesday, 20 October 2026 for prayers before Maa Durga and took part in the idol-immersion ceremony.
Posting on X, Nadda wrote: 'शक्ति की आराधना के पावन पर्व शारदीय नवरात्रि के समापन एवं विजयादशमी के शुभ अवसर पर आज बिलासपुर, हिमाचल प्रदेश में सपरिवार माँ दुर्गा की पूजा-अर्चना की और प्रतिमा विसर्जन कार्यक्रम में सहभागिता की।' ('On the sacred festival of Shakti worship — the conclusion of Sharadiya Navratri and the auspicious occasion of Vijayadashami — I performed puja-archana of Maa Durga with family in Bilaspur, Himachal Pradesh, and participated in the idol-immersion ceremony.')A homecoming for the festival's final day
Bilaspur holds personal significance for Nadda, who hails from Himachal Pradesh. Vijayadashami — the tenth day that marks the victory of good over evil — is the ceremonial culmination of the nine-night Navratri festival dedicated to Goddess Durga, and idol immersion, or visarjan, is its most visible public ritual across India.Nadda's prayer for all Indians
Nadda extended wishes to citizens across the country, invoking 'जगत जननी माँ दुर्गा' ('Maa Durga, the mother of the universe') and praying for a 'happy, healthy, and prosperous life' for every Indian and every resident of Himachal Pradesh. He signed off with the traditional invocation 'जय माता दी!' — a customary greeting among Durga devotees in North India.Point of View
Reinforcing personal and cultural roots alongside public duties. For the BJP's national president, participation in Navratri and Vijayadashami carries symbolic resonance with the party's broader cultural messaging. The prayer for 'healthy' citizens also subtly threads his portfolio as Union Health Minister into a ceremonial context. There is no policy pivot here — but the visibility of a Cabinet minister returning home for festival rituals is itself a form of political communication.
NationPress
20 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Where did JP Nadda celebrate Vijayadashami 2026?
J. P. Nadda celebrated Vijayadashami in Bilaspur, Himachal Pradesh , performing Durga puja and participating in the idol-immersion ceremony with his family.
What is Vijayadashami and why is it significant?
Vijayadashami, also called Dussehra, is the tenth day of Navratri and marks the victory of good over evil. It concludes the nine-night festival dedicated to Goddess Durga and is celebrated across India with idol-immersion rituals.
What did JP Nadda say on Navratri 2026?
Nadda invoked Maa Durga's blessings for a 'happy, healthy, and prosperous life' for all Indians and residents of Himachal Pradesh, signing off with the devotional greeting 'जय माता दी!'
Is JP Nadda from Himachal Pradesh?
Yes, J. P. Nadda hails from Himachal Pradesh , and Bilaspur is among the districts of the state with which he has close personal ties.
What is pratima visarjan in Navratri?
Pratima visarjan is the ceremonial immersion of the Durga idol in a water body on Vijayadashami, symbolising the goddess's return to her celestial abode. It is the concluding ritual of the Navratri festival.
