Shekhawat extends Shravan Shivratri greetings to nation
Synopsis
Union Culture and Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat invoked the Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra and extended greetings to all Indians on Shravan Mas Shivratri on 11 August 2026, reflecting the Culture Ministry's tradition of honouring India's religious heritage.
Key Takeaways
Union Culture and Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat posted Shravan Shivratri greetings on 11 August 2026 .
His message opened with the full verse of the Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra from the Rigveda.
Shravan Mas Shivratri is a monthly Hindu observance dedicated to Lord Shiva, marked by fasting and temple rituals.
Shekhawat is a senior BJP leader and Lok Sabha MP from Jodhpur, Rajasthan .
The greeting aligns with the Culture Ministry's mandate to highlight India's living religious and cultural traditions.
With the sacred chant of the Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra, Union Culture and Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat extended heartfelt wishes to citizens across India on the occasion of Shravan Mas Shivratri on Tuesday, 11 August 2026.
Shekhawat opened his message with the full verse of the Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra — 'ॐ त्र्यम्बकं यजामहे सुगन्धिं पुष्टिवर्धनम्...' ('We worship the three-eyed Lord Shiva, the fragrant one who nourishes all beings; may he liberate us from death as a cucumber is severed from its vine, and grant us immortality') — before offering his greetings to 'all countrymen on the auspicious festival of Shivratri in the month of Shravan.'
Shravan Mas Shivratri is a monthly observance dedicated to Lord Shiva, falling within the holy Hindu month of Shravan. Devotees mark the day with fasting, night-long vigils, and ritual offerings of water and bel leaves at Shiva temples across the country — from the ghats of Varanasi to the shrines of Rajasthan, Shekhawat's home state.
As the minister heading India's Culture Ministry, Shekhawat's seasonal greetings reflect the ministry's broader mandate to recognise and amplify the country's living religious and cultural traditions. The Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra — one of the oldest and most revered verses of the Rigveda — carries particular resonance as an invocation of protection, healing, and transcendence.
Point of View
Whose portfolio is Culture and Tourism, such posts serve a dual purpose: personal piety and institutional branding of the ministry as a custodian of Hindu heritage. The pattern is consistent and unlikely to shift. What bears watching is whether the Culture Ministry pairs such seasonal messaging with substantive heritage or pilgrimage-circuit announcements around major Shaivite festivals later in the year.
NationPress
11 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Shravan Mas Shivratri?
Shravan Mas Shivratri is a monthly observance dedicated to Lord Shiva that falls during the auspicious Hindu month of Shravan. Devotees fast, visit Shiva temples, and offer ritual items such as water, milk, and bel leaves throughout the day and night.
What is the Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra?
The Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra is one of the oldest and most revered hymns of the Rigveda, addressed to Lord Shiva in his three-eyed form. It is chanted as an invocation for protection, healing, and liberation from the cycle of death and rebirth.
Who is Gajendra Singh Shekhawat?
Gajendra Singh Shekhawat is India's Union Minister of Culture and Tourism, a senior BJP leader, and the Lok Sabha Member of Parliament from Jodhpur, Rajasthan.
Why did the Culture Minister post Shivratri greetings?
As Union Minister of Culture and Tourism, Shekhawat periodically issues greetings on significant Hindu and national festivals, consistent with the ministry's mandate to recognise India's religious and cultural traditions.
When did Shekhawat post his Shravan Shivratri message?
Shekhawat posted his Shravan Shivratri greetings on Tuesday, 11 August 2026, at 8:25 AM IST on the social media platform X.
