Vishnu Deo Sai attends Navratri celebrations and Durga Puja pandals in Raipur; highlights women’s empowerment schemes, including monthly assistance to 68 lakh beneficiaries and 14 lakh Lakhpati Didis
TFP Bureau, Raipur, October 19, 2026: Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai on Sunday attended several Garba festivals and Durga Puja celebrations in Raipur, describing Navratri as a celebration of India’s rich cultural traditions, social harmony and respect for women.
Extending greetings to the people on Sharadiya Navratri, Sai offered prayers to Maa Adishakti for peace, prosperity and the well-being of the state. He said festivals such as Garba and Durga Puja strengthen faith, preserve cultural traditions and bring communities together in an atmosphere of love and brotherhood.
The Chief Minister visited Durga Puja pandals organised by the Mana Bazar Sarvajanik Durga Puja Samiti and the Sarvajanik Shri Shri Durga Puja Samiti, where he offered prayers to Maa Durga.
He also attended ‘Raas Garba with Bhajan Dandiya’, organised by the youth wing of the Pujya Chhattisgarh Sindhi Panchayat at Hukum Lalit Mahal; Raas Garba at Rambagh; ‘Sorathi Rang Rangeelo’, organised by Shri Dasha Sorathiya Vanik Samaj at Ram Mangalam Lawn in Pachpedi Naka; and ‘Sankalp Garba’ at BTI Ground in Shankar Nagar.
Community members and devotees welcomed the Chief Minister at the venues, where participants in traditional attire performed Garba and Dandiya to devotional songs and music.
Garba celebrates women’s dignity and strength
Sai said Navratri was not only a festival dedicated to the worship of Maa Durga but also an occasion to recognise women’s strength and contribution to society. He noted that Garba, rooted in Gujarat’s cultural traditions, had gained popularity across the country and become a symbol of India’s unity in diversity.
“Respecting women, protecting their dignity and ensuring their safety and economic independence are among the government’s top priorities,” he said.
The Chief Minister added that empowered women who participate in decision-making and achieve financial independence strengthen their families and society. He said traditional festivals also offered an opportunity to pass cultural values on to younger generations.
68 lakh women receive monthly assistance
Highlighting the state government’s women-centric initiatives, Sai said nearly 68 lakh women receive ₹1,000 every month directly into their bank accounts under the Mahtari Vandan Yojana.
The financial assistance helps beneficiaries meet household expenses, children’s educational needs and other family requirements, while enabling them to make independent decisions about spending, he said.
Sai added that 14 lakh women in Chhattisgarh had become Lakhpati Didis, reflecting their enterprise, hard work and growing economic participation. The government is promoting women’s livelihoods through self-help groups, income-generating activities and various welfare schemes, he said.
Development of religious sites underway
Emphasising Chhattisgarh’s spiritual heritage, Sai referred to the state’s long-standing traditions associated with Mata Kaushalya, Maa Danteshwari, Maa Bamleshwari, Maa Mahamaya and Maa Chandrahasini.
He said large numbers of devotees visit temples and Shaktipeeths during Navratri, including those at Dantewada, Dongargarh, Ratanpur and Chandrapur. Preserving these religious and cultural traditions and connecting the younger generation with them was a shared responsibility, he added.
The Chief Minister said the state government was working to develop major Devi Shaktipeeths and religious sites to improve facilities for devotees and enhance their recognition at the national level.
Referring to the country’s development under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Sai said progress and heritage preservation must go hand in hand. Chhattisgarh’s cultural traditions, he added, should remain a source of identity and strength as the state advances towards greater development.
Appreciating the organising committees, he said community celebrations such as Garba and Durga Puja foster social harmony and help transmit cultural heritage from one generation to the next. He concluded by praying for the health, prosperity and well-being of the people of Chhattisgarh.
Bastar moving towards peace and development: Kedar Kashyap
Meanwhile, Cabinet Minister Kedar Kashyap extended Navratri greetings and said Bastar was entering a new phase of peace, trust and development following the government’s efforts against Naxalism.
He said that areas once associated with gunfire and explosions were increasingly resonating with the beats of the mandar, a traditional tribal musical instrument. The transformation, he added, was bringing renewed recognition to Bastar’s rich tribal culture, traditions and way of life.
Kashyap credited the efforts of the governments led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah for the campaign against Naxalism, describing the changing situation in Bastar as a source of pride for Chhattisgarh.
Cabinet Minister Guru Khushwant Saheb, MLA Motilal Sahu, Chhattisgarh State Civil Supplies Corporation chairman Sanjay Shrivastava, community representatives Amit Chimnani, Mahesh Daryani and Nitin Dholakia, along with public representatives, organising committee members, devotees and citizens, attended the celebrations.
