Sonowal joins Durga Puja celebrations in Dibrugarh on Mahashashthi
Synopsis
Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal visited two Durga Puja pandals in Dibrugarh on Mahashashthi, seeking blessings at the 99th Khowang Sonowal Charitable Trust celebration and the Mitra Sangha Mandap in Graham Bazar, alongside Assam MLAs Prasanta Phukan and Chakradhar Gogoi.
Key Takeaways
Sarbananda Sonowal attended two Durga Puja pandals in Dibrugarh on 16 October 2026 on the occasion of Mahashashthi .
He visited the 99th Khowang Sonowal Charitable Trust Durga Puja , a celebration nearly a century old.
He also joined the Mitra Sangha Durga Puja Mandap in Graham Bazar, Dibrugarh .
Assam MLA Prasanta Phukan (Dibrugarh) and Assam MLA Chakradhar Gogoi accompanied the Minister.
The visit reflects BJP's continued effort to maintain grassroots visibility in eastern Assam through major festivals.
The festive season drew Union Ports and Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal back to his home district on Friday, 16 October 2026, as he sought the blessings of Maa Durga at two prominent pandals in Dibrugarh, Assam, on the occasion of Mahashashthi.
Two pandals, one homecoming
Sonowal first visited the 99th Khowang Sonowal Charitable Trust Durga Puja in Dibrugarh — a celebration that has marked the community's calendar for nearly a century. He then joined the festivities at the Mitra Sangha Durga Puja Mandap in Graham Bazar, Dibrugarh, where he described the atmosphere as one of 'devotion and festive fervour.' The Minister offered prayers for 'the well-being and welfare of all,' invoking the goddess as the destroyer of all adversity.
Accompanying him were Assam MLA Prasanta Phukan, who represents the Dibrugarh constituency in the state assembly, and Assam MLA Chakradhar Gogoi, alongside other dignitaries.
BJP's Northeast roots on display
The appearances fit a well-worn pattern in Assam's political calendar. Senior BJP figures have consistently used Durga Puja — one of the most widely celebrated festivals across the state — to maintain direct visibility with local communities and reinforce ties with grassroots networks. For Sonowal, who served as Chief Minister of Assam before joining the Union Cabinet, events like these in Dibrugarh carry particular resonance: they are as much a return home as they are public engagements.
The presence of two sitting MLAs alongside a Union Minister signals the party's coordinated effort to keep its eastern Assam base energised through the festive season.
Point of View
Whose Northeast expansion has been built as much on cultural affinity as on administrative delivery, a senior leader's personal presence at a nearly century-old community puja carries symbolic weight beyond the ritual. With Assam's legislative cycle always on the horizon, keeping eastern districts visible on the party's calendar — through events that bring a Union minister and two MLAs to the same pandal — is deliberate coalition maintenance dressed in festive colours.
NationPress
16 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Where did Sarbananda Sonowal attend Durga Puja in 2026?
Sonowal attended Durga Puja at two pandals in Dibrugarh, Assam — the Khowang Sonowal Charitable Trust Durga Puja and the Mitra Sangha Durga Puja Mandap in Graham Bazar — on Mahashashthi, 16 October 2026.
What is the Khowang Sonowal Charitable Trust Durga Puja?
The Khowang Sonowal Charitable Trust Durga Puja in Dibrugarh was in its 99th edition in 2026, making it one of the longest-running community Durga Puja celebrations in the region.
Who accompanied Sarbananda Sonowal at the Dibrugarh Durga Puja?
Assam MLAs Prasanta Phukan, who represents the Dibrugarh constituency, and Chakradhar Gogoi accompanied Union Minister Sonowal at the Durga Puja celebrations.
What is Mahashashthi in Durga Puja?
Mahashashthi is the sixth day of Navratri that formally opens the Durga Puja festival, marking the ceremonial unveiling of the goddess's eyes and the start of main public celebrations.
Why do BJP leaders attend Durga Puja events in Assam?
Senior BJP leaders attend Durga Puja celebrations in Assam to maintain cultural connection with communities and reinforce local grassroots networks, a practice that has been central to the party's expansion in Northeast India.
