BJP Minister wants Maharashtra govt to celebrate ‘Varaha jayanti’ on Aug 25

Maharashtra government should celebrate 25th August as ‘Varaha Jayanti’ and should announce it as a festival when cultural and religious programmes should be organised in all the major cities, BJP Minister Nitesh Rane demanded on Wednesday (August 20, 2025).

He has written a letter to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, requesting for special lectures on the history and the message by ‘Varaha Bhagwan’ in the State’s schools and colleges. Religious scholars expressed caution about the proposal of change to the textbooks, saying that Constitutionality should be the focus during any such attempt.

“In Hindu religion, Varaha (wild boar) is the third incarnation of Lord Vishnu. So, coming 25th August should be celebrated with pomp. The school textbooks should have information about the significance of ‘Varaha Jayanti’, so our future generations know about its importance. I have appealed to the Chief Minister. Our government is a Hindutvawadi government. So, I decided to write this letter after understanding the importance of this day in our religion. I appeal to the Hindu community of Maharashtra that they should celebrate Varaha Jayanti on a large scale in each village. I have requested the CM that as the government, we should extend all possible support to celebrate this day,” Mr. Rane said.

He said that any complaints against it will not be tolerated. “If anyone opposes it, the Hindu community will give a befitting reply. We don’t stop anyone from celebrating any festivals. Nobody should dare to challenge our festivals,” he said.

Nitesh Rane is the Fisheries and Ports Minister of Maharashtra. He sent the letter to the CM on Wednesday.

Religious scholars said that the secular aspect of Indian Constitution was fading day by day. “I have no issues if someone celebrates a Hindu festival. But if you are talking about a textbook, I would prefer Constitutionality to be the focus,” said Islamic scholar Zeenat Shaukat Ali.

“I don’t know if we are secular anymore. The secular part of our Constitution is fading now. The meaning and weight of the word is not being carried. In view of the other happenings, it is not surprising that such a proposal has been moved. But religion is a matter to be practised at home. It should be out of the social, political ambit. Whichever religion you choose, it has to be done privately. In public, the Constitution of India should be followed completely. That is becoming less and less visible. It is a cause of concern,” she said.

She also proposed a separate textbooks with positive stories from all religions, to help children understand each other better. “While celebrating religion in our own ways is very good. but when you make it into a public affair, you want to institutionalise it, it is a problem. We should all celebrate the religion we believe in. There are so many festivals like Diwali, Eid, Christmas – it is a part of our legacy to celebrate together. In a secular democracy, you study the beauty of all religions. Hinduism has so much of humanity. Islam says, we are prophets of God. If we have such a text which tells the stories of all the religions, it will be good,” she told The Hindu.