CM Yogi to Rename Bhadohi 'Sant Ravidas Nagar' on Saint's 650th Jayanti
Synopsis
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced on 29 July 2026 that Bhadohi district will be officially renamed Sant Ravidas Nagar, timed to the 650th birth anniversary of the Bhakti saint. Formal administrative action to implement the change is underway.
Key Takeaways
Bhadohi district in eastern Uttar Pradesh will be officially renamed Sant Ravidas Nagar .
The renaming was announced by CM Yogi Adityanath on 29 July 2026 via the Chief Minister's Office on X.
The occasion is the 650th birth anniversary (jayanti) of Sadguru Ravidas Ji Maharaj .
The district was carved out of Varanasi in 1994 and has historically been associated with the name Sant Ravidas Nagar.
A formal government gazette notification is the next required step to make the renaming legally binding.
Sant Ravidas is a revered 15th-16th century Bhakti movement saint, particularly significant to Dalit communities across India.
A district will reclaim an identity rooted in devotion. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced on Wednesday, 29 July 2026 that Bhadohi district in eastern Uttar Pradesh will once again be known as 'Sant Ravidas Nagar' — the name restored as a tribute on the occasion of the 650th birth anniversary of Sadguru Ravidas Ji Maharaj.
The Chief Minister's Office of Uttar Pradesh posted the announcement on X, quoting CM Yogi directly: 'Bhadohi ko phir se Sant Ravidas Nagar ke naam se jaana jaega' — 'Bhadohi will once again be known as Sant Ravidas Nagar.' The post added that necessary administrative action to implement the renaming will be taken forward in honour of the saint's sacred memory.
A Name Rooted in the Bhakti Tradition
Sant Ravidas — a towering figure of the 15th-16th century Bhakti movement — was born in the Varanasi region, making eastern Uttar Pradesh his spiritual homeland. Revered across India, and particularly among Dalit communities who see him as both a spiritual guide and a social reformer, Ravidas preached a message of universal dignity and devotion that cut across caste lines. Naming a district after him is not merely administrative — it is an act of cultural affirmation. The district was carved out of Varanasi in 1994 and has historically been associated with the name Sant Ravidas Nagar in official references. The current announcement signals a formal restoration of that identity, with the 650th jayanti providing the ceremonial occasion.Bhadohi's Dual Identity — and What Changes Now
Bhadohi is best known nationally as the carpet-weaving capital of India, its looms producing handmade rugs that reach markets across the world. For residents, the district has carried both names in common use for years. The formal gazette notification — the step that will make the name legally binding across government records, signage, and official correspondence — is the next milestone to watch. The Uttar Pradesh government has a documented pattern of using birth anniversaries of saints and cultural figures as occasions to make administrative decisions that carry symbolic weight. This announcement fits squarely within that tradition, while also speaking directly to communities for whom Sant Ravidas is a living spiritual presence. When the gazette order lands, a district on the map of Uttar Pradesh will carry, once again, the name of a saint who taught that no human being is lesser than another — and that is the kind of renaming that outlasts any government.Point of View
Lending administrative acts the weight of devotion. The formal gazette notification, when it comes, will be the real test of implementation speed and intent.
NationPress
29 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Bhadohi being renamed Sant Ravidas Nagar?
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced the renaming as a tribute to Sant Ravidas on the occasion of the saint's 650th birth anniversary. The name Sant Ravidas Nagar has historically been associated with the district since it was carved out of Varanasi in 1994.
When was the Bhadohi renaming announced?
The announcement was made on 29 July 2026 by the Chief Minister's Office of Uttar Pradesh on X.
Who was Sant Ravidas?
Sant Ravidas was a 15th-16th century Bhakti movement saint and poet from the Varanasi region, widely revered as a social reformer and spiritual guide, particularly among Dalit communities across India.
Has Bhadohi been called Sant Ravidas Nagar before?
Yes. The district, carved out of Varanasi in 1994 , has historically been associated with the name Sant Ravidas Nagar in official administrative references.
What is the next step for the Bhadohi name change to take effect?
A formal government gazette notification is required to make the renaming legally binding across official records, signage, and government correspondence in Uttar Pradesh.
