Mahashivratri At Isha: Rajnath Singh, Sadhguru Celebrate Nation-Builders With Bhavya Bharat Awards

Last Updated:February 16, 2026, 11:00 IST

A special Defence category paid tribute to Operation Sindoor, recognising senior officers representing the Air Force, Army and Navy for their service and leadership.

At the Mahashivratri celebrations at the Isha Yoga Center, spirituality and nation-building converged in a powerful display of devotion, cultural pride and national service. The night-long event on February 15-16, 2026, witnessed the presence of Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, who joined hundreds of thousands of seekers in celebrating what has become one of the world’s largest spiritual gatherings for Mahashivratri.

Addressing the massive congregation, Singh drew a connection between India’s spiritual ethos and its armed forces. Referring to Operation Sindoor, he said, “On one hand, our armed forces provide humanitarian assistance during times of crisis with the spirit of Shiva. On the other, when duty demands, they execute operations like Operation Sindoor with the intensity of Rudra. The spirit within our soldiers comes from our culture, from the inspiration of Lord Shiva." Deeply moved by the atmosphere, he added, “The divinity I am experiencing here makes it clear, even without anyone telling me, that this place is blessed by Mahadeva, the Lord of Lords."

The evening also marked the launch of the Bhavya Bharat Bhushan Awards, instituted by Sadhguru to honour individuals shaping India’s future across diverse fields. Presenting the inaugural awards alongside the Defence Minister, Sadhguru said, “A nation is not just land; a nation is its people. Only when people are truly inspired and committed can we build a great nation – a Bhavya Bharat."

This year’s awardees reflected excellence across disciplines. In Science and Technology, honours went to Nambi Narayanan and K Radhakrishnan for advancing India’s technological frontiers. Classical dancer Alarmel Valli was recognised for preserving India’s artistic heritage, while legendary violinist N Rajam was honoured for enriching the nation’s musical landscape. Historian Vikram Sampath was awarded for illuminating India’s past through scholarship, and badminton icon Saina Nehwal for elevating India’s global sporting stature.

A special Defence category paid tribute to Operation Sindoor, recognising senior officers representing the Air Force, Army and Navy for their service and leadership.

Beyond the awards, Mahashivratri 2026 unfolded as a vibrant blend of meditation, music and cultural celebration under the theme “Ganga," highlighting the sacred river’s spiritual and ecological significance. Millions participated both in person and online. For the first time, Sadhguru performed the Yogeshwara Linga Maha Abhishekam, with over five million people registering globally for the free offering.

Reflecting on the timeless relevance of yogic sciences, Sadhguru said, “Adiyogi is not of the past. Adiyogi is of the future because what he gave are not belief systems, philosophies, ideologies or teachings, they’re technologies for wellbeing." He added, “Not looking up. Looking in. In is the only way out."

The event was broadcast live in 25 languages, reaching an estimated 150 million viewers worldwide. On the auspicious night, Sadhguru also announced a free Inner Engineering Online offering available until February 18 and revealed that the consecration of Kala Bhairava will take place later this year at the Isha Yoga Center.

As chants of “Shambho" resonated at midnight, Mahashivratri once again stood as a testament to India’s living spiritual traditions—where devotion, culture and national service meet in a shared vision of a Bhavya Bharat.

News india Mahashivratri At Isha: Rajnath Singh, Sadhguru Celebrate Nation-Builders With Bhavya Bharat Awards

Read More