Kumar Bahukhandi
Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma offers prayers during his visit to a revered Goddess temple in Kavardha, Kabirdham district, as part of the Maha Ashtami celebrations reported on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, seeking blessings for the peace, happiness and prosperity of the people of Chhattisgarh. Photo: channel24india.com via CG/DPR
Participates in Kavardha’s century-old Khappar Yatra, seeks blessings of Goddess Kali, joins devotees in singing traditional Jasgeet and interacts with young pilgrims gathered for the sacred Navratri celebrations.
Key Highlights
- Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma visits three prominent temples in Kavardha during Maha Ashtami celebrations.
- Offers prayers for peace, prosperity, happiness and wellbeing of the people of Chhattisgarh.
- Witnesses the historic Khappar Yatra associated with Goddess Kali, a religious tradition believed to be more than a century old.
- Joins devotees in singing traditional Jasgeet and participating in Mata Seva.
- Interacts with young devotees and pilgrims who travelled from distant areas to attend the celebrations.
- Describes Kavardha’s Khappar Yatra as an invaluable symbol of religious faith and cultural heritage.
Raipur: Deputy Chief Minister and Kavardha MLA Vijay Sharma participated in the sacred Maha Ashtami celebrations in Kabirdham district, offering prayers at the revered Maa Danteshwari, Maa Parmeshwari and Maa Chandi temples in Kavardha and seeking divine blessings for the peace, prosperity and happiness of the people of Chhattisgarh. During the religious observances reported on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, Sharma also witnessed Kavardha’s historic Khappar Yatra, a distinctive devotional tradition associated with Goddess Kali, and joined devotees in singing traditional Jasgeet. His participation in the celebrations reflected the enduring significance of local religious traditions and the strong cultural identity associated with Navratri festivities in the region.
Deputy CM Offers Prayers at Kavardha’s Revered Temples
The Deputy Chief Minister visited the prominent Maa Danteshwari, Maa Parmeshwari and Maa Chandi temples in Kavardha, where he performed traditional prayers and sought the blessings of the presiding deities.
The Maha Ashtami observances brought together devotees from Kavardha and surrounding areas, reflecting the deep religious significance of Navratri in the district.
Sharma prayed for the wellbeing of families across Chhattisgarh and expressed his devotion to Maa Bhagwati.
The temple visits also provided an opportunity for him to interact with local devotees and participate in the religious activities associated with the occasion.
Century-Old Khappar Yatra Reflects Kavardha’s Living Religious Heritage
One of the major highlights of the celebrations was Kavardha’s historic Khappar Yatra, a distinctive religious procession associated with Goddess Kali.
According to local tradition, the Khappar Yatra has been observed on Maha Ashtami night for more than a century.
The ritual is closely associated with the religious traditions surrounding the Maa Danteshwari, Maa Chandi and Maa Parmeshwari temples.
During the observance, a ceremonial representation of Goddess Kali carrying a Khappar, or ritual vessel, moves through the town in accordance with established religious customs.
Devotees believe that the procession symbolises prayers for the protection, peace, prosperity and collective wellbeing of the community.
The tradition continues to attract large numbers of worshippers who gather to witness the ritual and offer their respects to the Goddess.
Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma joins devotees and local residents during the Maha Ashtami religious celebrations in Kavardha, Kabirdham district, reported on Tuesday, October 20, 2026. The Deputy Chief Minister participated in the traditional festivities and interacted with devotees who gathered for the historic Khappar Yatra. Photo: channel24india.com via CG/DPR
For the people of Kavardha, the Khappar Yatra represents not merely an annual religious observance but also a living connection with the beliefs, customs and spiritual practices preserved by successive generations.
Vijay Sharma Joins Devotees in Jasgeet and Mata Seva
During the Maha Ashtami celebrations, Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma joined devotees in Mata Seva and participated in the singing of traditional Jasgeet dedicated to the Divine Mother.
Jasgeet, an important expression of devotional culture in Chhattisgarh, forms an integral part of religious gatherings during Navratri.
Through devotional singing, worshippers express their faith, gratitude and reverence towards the Goddess.
Sharma participated in the collective worship alongside devotees, contributing to the spiritual atmosphere surrounding the celebrations.
The gathering resonated with devotional songs and chants praising Maa Bhagwati as worshippers participated in the traditional observances.
Deputy CM Interacts with Young Devotees and Pilgrims
The Deputy Chief Minister also met young people and other devotees who had travelled from Kavardha and distant areas to participate in the Maha Ashtami celebrations.
He exchanged greetings with them, enquired about their wellbeing and extended his best wishes on the occasion of Navratri.
His interaction with the gathering reflected the strong community participation associated with the festival.
The presence of young devotees was particularly significant, illustrating how traditional religious observances continue to attract participation across generations.
Such gatherings also provide opportunities for younger members of society to become familiar with local cultural traditions and the community practices associated with them.
Khappar Yatra Is an Invaluable Cultural Heritage: Vijay Sharma
Highlighting the importance of the historic religious tradition, Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma described Kavardha’s Khappar Yatra as an invaluable part of the region’s cultural and spiritual heritage.
He emphasised that the tradition, preserved through generations, continues to connect people with their religious faith and ancestral customs.
Sharma said that such observances play an important role in maintaining cultural continuity and strengthening the relationship between communities and their spiritual traditions.
Expressing his feelings on participating in the celebrations, he conveyed that receiving the blessings of the Goddess and joining devotees in worship and service on the sacred occasion of Maha Ashtami was a matter of great fortune.
The Deputy Chief Minister also prayed to Maa Bhagwati for happiness, peace and prosperity in everyone’s life.
His remarks underlined the importance of safeguarding the traditions that form an integral part of Chhattisgarh’s cultural identity.
Traditional Religious Celebrations Strengthen Community Bonds
Navratri occupies an important place in the religious and cultural life of Chhattisgarh, where worship of the Divine Mother is expressed through temple rituals, devotional singing, community gatherings and traditional processions.
In districts such as Kabirdham, these observances are closely linked with local customs and practices that have evolved over generations.
Kavardha’s Khappar Yatra remains a distinctive example of this continuity.
The gathering of devotees from different areas demonstrates the enduring appeal of community-based religious traditions and their role in bringing people together.
The participation of younger generations also contributes to the preservation of practices that might otherwise gradually lose their connection with everyday community life.
A Celebration of Faith, Tradition and Cultural Continuity
The Maha Ashtami celebrations in Kavardha highlighted the close relationship between religious devotion, cultural heritage and community participation.
Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma’s visits to the revered temples, his participation in the Khappar Yatra and his interactions with devotees formed part of a larger celebration of faith and tradition.
The occasion also drew attention to the importance of preserving Chhattisgarh’s distinctive religious customs, particularly those associated with historic temples and traditional community observances.
As devotees gathered to seek the blessings of Maa Bhagwati, the celebrations reaffirmed Kavardha’s longstanding association with religious faith, cultural continuity and the collective spirit of Navratri.
