Nitish Kumar offers Mahashtami prayers at Patna Devi temples

Key Takeaways

Nitish Kumar visited several Devi shrines and prominent puja pandals in Patna on Mahashtami, 18 October 2026 .

He prayed for happiness, peace, prosperity, and progress for the state of Bihar .

The post is part of a three-part thread (1/3) on X, accompanied by four images .

Mahashtami is one of the most sacred days of the nine-night Navratri festival, drawing large gatherings at temples across Bihar.

Kumar is the Janata Dal (United) national president and former long-serving Chief Minister of Bihar.

On the sacred occasion of Mahashtami — the eighth and most reverential day of Navratri — former Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar visited several Devi temples and prominent Durga Puja pandals across Patna on Sunday, 18 October 2026, offering prayers to Maa Durga and seeking her blessings for the state's peace, prosperity, and progress.

Posting on X, Kumar wrote: 'आज नवरात्रि की महाअष्टमी के पावन अवसर पर पटना स्थित विभिन्न देवी स्थानों एवं प्रमुख पूजा पंडालों में माँ दुर्गा की पूजा-अर्चना की।' — 'Today, on the auspicious occasion of Mahashtami during Navratri, I offered worship to Maa Durga at various Devi shrines and prominent puja pandals in Patna.' He added that he prayed to the Goddess for happiness, peace, prosperity, and progress in the state.

Mahashtami and the weight of the eighth night

Mahashtami is widely regarded as one of the most spiritually potent evenings of the nine-night festival, drawing enormous gatherings at temples and pandals across Bihar. In Patna, the capital, several ancient Devi temples — including those dedicated to Mata Patna Devi — have for centuries served as focal points of communal worship, drawing devotees from across the state.

A Bihar tradition that transcends politics

Senior political figures in Bihar have long participated in major religious observances, presenting such visits as personal acts of devotion alongside public wishes for state welfare. Nitish Kumar, who has served as Chief Minister of Bihar across multiple tenures and remains Janata Dal (United) national president, has consistently marked festivals like Navratri with temple visits and public prayers — a practice that resonates deeply with Bihar's predominantly Hindu electorate and reflects the state's rich traditions of goddess worship.

The post is marked 1/3, indicating Kumar shared images and further content in a thread, likely documenting multiple sites visited during the day's observances.

Point of View

His participation carries both devotional and symbolic weight. The three-part thread with photographs amplifies visibility across his support base ahead of what remains a competitive Bihar political environment. Such visible religious participation continues to be a soft but consistent tool in the Bihar political playbook.

NationPress

18 Oct 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

Where did Nitish Kumar offer Mahashtami prayers in 2026?

Nitish Kumar offered Mahashtami prayers at various Devi temples and prominent Durga Puja pandals located in Patna, the capital of Bihar, on 18 October 2026.

What did Nitish Kumar pray for on Mahashtami?

He prayed to Maa Durga for happiness, peace, prosperity, and progress for the state of Bihar.

What is Mahashtami and why is it significant?

Mahashtami is the eighth day of the Navratri festival and is considered one of the most spiritually significant days of the nine-night celebration dedicated to Goddess Durga.

What is Nitish Kumar's current political position?

Nitish Kumar is the national president of Janata Dal (United) and a former long-serving Chief Minister of Bihar.

How do Bihar political leaders typically observe Navratri?

Senior Bihar political figures routinely visit temples and Durga Puja pandals during Navratri, presenting participation as personal devotion alongside public wishes for state welfare — a pattern seen consistently across the state's political landscape.