CM Nayab Saini urges opposition to back Guru Ravidas 650th Prakash Utsav
Synopsis
Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini has appealed to opposition parties to set aside politics and cooperate in the state programmes marking the 650th Prakash Utsav of Sant Shiromani Shri Guru Ravidas Ji Maharaj, framing the celebration as a heritage event that transcends partisan lines.
Key Takeaways
Nayab Singh Saini , Chief Minister of Haryana , posted a public appeal on 7 August 2026 urging the opposition to cooperate in the 650th Prakash Utsav of Guru Ravidas .
Guru Ravidas was a 15th-century mystic poet-saint and social reformer central to the Ravidassia tradition and revered by Dalit communities across northern India.
Saini called on rivals to 'rise above politics' — a framing that places opposition parties in a difficult position regarding a major community celebration.
Haryana has a significant Scheduled Caste population for whom Guru Ravidas commemorations are among the most important cultural events of the year.
Cross-party cooperation — or its absence — at the Prakash Utsav programmes will be the key political signal to watch in the coming days.
When a Chief Minister appeals to his political rivals to set aside partisanship for a saint revered by millions, it signals something larger than a calendar event. Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Friday, 7 August 2026, called on the opposition to rise above politics and actively cooperate in the programmes organised for the 650th Prakash Utsav of Sant Shiromani Shri Guru Ravidas Ji Maharaj.
In his appeal posted on X, Saini said — 'मैं विपक्ष से अपील करता हूँ कि वह राजनीति से ऊपर उठकर संत शिरोमणि श्री गुरु रविदास जी महाराज के 650वें प्रकाश उत्सव के अवसर पर आयोजित कार्यक्रमों में सहयोग करें' — 'I appeal to the opposition to rise above politics and cooperate in the programmes being organised on the occasion of the 650th Prakash Utsav of Sant Shiromani Shri Guru Ravidas Ji Maharaj.'
Who was Guru Ravidas — and why the 650th anniversary carries weight
Guru Ravidas was a 15th-century mystic poet-saint and social reformer whose teachings on human equality and dignity became foundational to the Ravidassia tradition. His verses — many of which were included in the Guru Granth Sahib — spoke directly to the lived experience of marginalised communities. Across northern India, and especially in Haryana, Dalit and Ravidassia communities observe his birth anniversary as one of the most significant cultural and spiritual events of the year. A 650th Prakash Utsav is, by any measure, a milestone occasion.Haryana's caste arithmetic and the politics of inclusion
Haryana has a substantial Scheduled Caste population, and Guru Ravidas commemorations carry real electoral and social weight in the state. State governments across India have long organised large public programmes around bhakti saint anniversaries — a practice that simultaneously signals cultural respect and political outreach to Dalit voters. Saini's appeal to the opposition is a recognisable move in this playbook: by framing the event as heritage rather than politics, he puts rival parties in the position of either joining in or appearing to obstruct a community celebration. The pressure is subtle but pointed.What the opposition does next
The level of opposition participation in the 650th Prakash Utsav programmes will be the real story to watch. A coordinated show of cross-party presence would validate Saini's appeal and lend the celebrations a rare bipartisan character. Silence or a boycott, on the other hand, would hand the ruling BJP an uncontested platform before one of Haryana's most engaged communities. Either way, the Chief Minister has already made his move — and the ball is squarely in the opposition's court.Point of View
He simultaneously honours a community central to Haryana's electoral map and forces the opposition to choose between cooperation and the optics of obstructing a beloved saint's anniversary. It fits a broader BJP pattern of using bhakti-saint commemorations as platforms for Dalit outreach — a strategy that has grown more deliberate since the party's focus on expanding its base among Scheduled Caste voters. The opposition's response, or lack of one, will reveal how they intend to contest that space ahead of future electoral cycles.
NationPress
7 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the 650th Prakash Utsav of Guru Ravidas?
Prakash Utsav marks the birth anniversary of Guru Ravidas, a 15th-century mystic poet-saint revered by Dalit and Ravidassia communities. The 650th edition is a milestone celebration being organised with state government support in Haryana.
Why did CM Nayab Singh Saini appeal to the opposition?
Saini called on opposition parties to rise above politics and cooperate in the Guru Ravidas 650th Prakash Utsav programmes, framing the event as a cultural and spiritual occasion that should transcend partisan divides.
Who was Guru Ravidas and why is he significant?
Guru Ravidas was a 15th-century saint and social reformer whose teachings on equality are foundational to the Ravidassia tradition. His verses are included in the Guru Granth Sahib and he is deeply revered by Dalit communities across northern India, especially in Haryana and Punjab.
What is the significance of Guru Ravidas Jayanti in Haryana?
Haryana has a substantial Scheduled Caste population, making Guru Ravidas Jayanti one of the most significant cultural and religious events in the state calendar, with large public gatherings and state-organised programmes.
Will opposition parties participate in the Guru Ravidas 650th Prakash Utsav?
That remains to be decided. CM Saini's public appeal puts pressure on opposition parties to join the celebrations; their level of participation will be a key political signal in the days ahead.
