Ranchi, Sep 3: Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Thursday underlined the role of religious and cultural festivals in strengthening social unity and brotherhood as he met a joint delegation of Ganesh Puja committees from Ranchi and extended his best wishes for the upcoming Shri Ganesh Mahotsav-2026.
Soren held a courtesy meeting with representatives of various Ganesh Puja committees functioning under the Shri Ganesh Puja Ranchi Mahanagar Zila Mahasamiti at his residential office on Kanke Road here.
During the meeting, the delegation formally invited the chief minister to attend the upcoming Shri Ganesh Mahotsav-2026 and apprised him of the preparations being undertaken for the festival. The representatives also briefed Soren about the programmes planned as part of the celebrations.
Welcoming the delegation, the chief minister conveyed his greetings and best wishes for the successful organisation of the festival.
Soren said festivals and religious-cultural events have significance beyond their traditional and devotional aspects as they provide an opportunity for people to come together and reinforce social bonds.
“Festivals and religious-cultural events play an important role in strengthening social unity, harmony and brotherhood,” Soren said.
The chief minister’s remarks assume significance as major religious and cultural festivals often bring together people from different sections of society and provide a common platform for community participation and interaction.
He wished the organisers, devotees and participants a peaceful and successful Ganesh Mahotsav-2026.
The delegation also apprised Soren of the preparations being made by the various puja committees for the upcoming celebrations. The representatives discussed the festival programme and invited the chief minister to participate in the celebrations.
The meeting highlighted the importance attached to community participation in the organisation of religious and cultural events in Ranchi, where several committees traditionally organise Ganesh Puja and associated programmes.
Rajya Sabha MP Mahua Maji was present during the meeting along with members and representatives of the Shri Ganesh Puja Ranchi Mahanagar Zila Mahasamiti.
Among those present were Nand Kishore Singh Chandel, Vikram Singh Sonu, Sandeep Mukherjee, Rahul Singh, Vicky Verma, Tunna Singh, Lakhan Kumar, Vinay Singh, Sagar, Sheela Oraon, Kavita Verma, Archana Mirdha, Rekha Sao, Neelu Singh, Manjula Bera, Aman Thakur, Surajbhan Singh, Sahil, Rohan Singh Ricky, Amit Singh Chandel, Jeetu Arora, Naresh Makkar Mishu and Gulshan Nanda, besides other members of the committee.
The Shri Ganesh Puja Ranchi Mahanagar Zila Mahasamiti comprises representatives of various Ganesh Puja committees involved in organising celebrations in different parts of the state capital.
With preparations for Ganesh Mahotsav-2026 underway, the meeting between the chief minister and the puja committee delegation also provided a platform for the organisers to share details of the proposed celebrations and extend a formal invitation to the head of the state government.
Soren’s emphasis on social harmony comes in the backdrop of the government’s broader focus on maintaining communal amity and encouraging collective participation in cultural events. By describing festivals as instruments of unity and brotherhood, the chief minister stressed their wider social significance alongside their religious importance.
The delegation expressed its invitation to Soren to participate in the festival, while the chief minister wished the organisers success for the upcoming celebrations.
The Ganesh Mahotsav is expected to witness participation by devotees and members of different sections of society in Ranchi, with various committees preparing programmes and celebrations for the occasion.
