The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) will organise Bal Vijayadashami celebrations across 11 localities in Nagpur on October 17, with programmes scheduled at different venues across the city.
The Vijayadashami Utsav is an important annual event of the RSS and is held every year in Nagpur. The 2025 Vijayadashami marked the completion of 100 years of the Sangh, with the organisation entering its centenary year.
The RSS was founded by Dr Keshav Baliram Hedgewar in Nagpur on Vijayadashami in 1925. The 2026 celebration will be held in the year following the RSS’s centenary celebrations, with Dr Mohan Bhagwat addressing swayamsevaks and invitees gathered at Reshimbag.
Out of the six major annual festivals (utsavs) observed by RSS shakhas (branches) throughout the year, Vijayadashami is considered the primary one. It symbolizes recognizing inner strength, awakening national consciousness, and renewing a commitment to social unity.
In Mohite, the programme will be held at 5.30 pm at NIT Satnami Nagar Ground. Sharad Shyamsundar Soni, National President of Akhil Bharatiya Maharashtriya Yuva Sangathan, will be the chief guest.
In Itwari, the celebration will take place at 6 pm at Chitnis Park Ground, with noted entrepreneur Aditya Sawalkar attending as the chief guest.
In Lalganj, the programme will be held at 6.30 pm at Buty Public School, Kalamna, on Old Kamptee Road. Ex-serviceman Vijay Bhavraoji Gazbe will be the chief guest.
In Binaki, the celebration will begin at 5.30 pm at Maharshi Dayanand Nagar Ground, near Hanuman Temple. Noted writer, journalist, historian and professor Niloyaji Chatterjee will attend as the chief guest.
In Sadar, the programme will be organised at 5.50 pm at the public Ganeshotsav stage ground in State Bank Colony, Rajnagar, on Katol Road. Dr Sahib Singh Nayyar, a renowned MS physician based in London, will be the chief guest.
In Gittikhadan, the event will be held at 6 pm at the NIT Ground near Sarathi Public School in Vayu Sena Colony, Dabha. Wing Commander Jagmal Singh Yadav, founder of Sarathi Public School, will attend as the chief guest.
In Dharampeth, the programme will take place at 5.45 pm at Bajaj Nagar Ground. Dr Sunita Dhote, an award-winning sportsperson and professor at the School of Management, Ramdeobaba University, Nagpur, will be the chief guest.
In Trimurti Nagar, the celebration will be held at 6.30 pm at the ground of Bhagwati Shakha in Manish Layout, Sonegaon Road. A path sanchalan by child and young swayamsevaks will precede the programme at 4.15 pm. Dr Ganesh Akhade, Dean of Polytechnic at G H Raisoni College of Engineering and Management, will be the special guest.
In Somalwada, the event will begin at 6 pm at Pande Layout Ground. Shaunak Tatipalli, a young entrepreneur and director of Shri Balaji Cylinders, will be the chief guest.
In Ajni, the programme will be held at 5 pm at Swaraj Nagar Ground, Omkar Nagar. Dr Bhushan Kumar Upadhyay, former Director General of Police of Maharashtra and former Commandant General of Home Guards, will attend as the chief guest.
In Nandanvan, the celebration will take place at 6.30 pm at the NIT Ground in Birsa Munda Nagar, near Dighori Square. Vivek Kusum Gulabrao Bhonde, Director of Vivekanand Public School, will be the chief guest.
Notably, The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh’s (RSS) annual Vijayadashami Utsav will be held on October 20, 2026, at Reshimbagh in Nagpur. The programme will commence at 7:40 AM. Dainik Jagran Editor-in-Chief Sanjay Gupta will be the chief guest at the event. RSS Sarsangchalak Dr Mohan Bhagwat will deliver the address during the celebration.
Across the country, RSS shakhas and swayamsevaks organise Vijayadashami programmes featuring shastra pujan, addresses by senior functionaries and cultural activities. A key highlight is the path sanchalan, in which swayamsevaks march in disciplined formations through streets, often accompanied by ghosh vadan (traditional musical instruments).
Israeli Consul General in Mumbai, Yaniv Revach, will also attend the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh’s (RSS) annual Vijayadashami Utsav in Nagpur on October 20, 2026, alongside former Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar. The participation of the Israeli diplomat is among the notable features of this year’s programme, which will be held at Reshimbagh.
Revach’s presence brings an international dimension to the annual gathering. India and Israel share close ties across areas including defence, security, technology, agriculture and innovation.
Earlier, in January this year, Yaniv Revach had visited to Nagpur and the RSS headquarters and praised the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh’s (RSS) focus on education, youth engagement and leadership development.
Speaking about his visit, Revach said he was honoured to be in Nagpur, where he participated in the inauguration of a hackathon involving students. He highlighted the role of young people and innovation in shaping the future, noting that engagement with students was a key objective of his visit.
“I was really impressed by the strong discipline and the deep connection to Indian history, culture and values, while also looking towards the future here in India,” Revach said. He added that he was honoured to pay his respects to RSS founder Dr Keshav Baliram Hedgewar and 2nd Sarsanghchalak M S Golwalkar, stating that their legacy and vision continue to guide the organisation even today.
The Israeli diplomat emphasised that the RSS’s long-term investment in education, youth activities and leadership development stood out clearly during his visit. “It’s very important to understand that the RSS invests in education, youth activities and leadership in order to build a strong community and a caring society here in India,” he said.
Drawing parallels with Israel, Revach noted similarities between the RSS’s approach and Israeli movements that prioritise education and values. “As an Israeli visitor, it was very clear for me. I saw similarities with Israeli movements, especially the importance given to education and values in shaping the next generation,” he said.
The annual Vijayadashami Utsav brings together swayamsevaks, invited guests and prominent personalities in Nagpur, the RSS’s founding city.
Alongside the Vijayadashami celebrations in Nagpur, the RSS marks the occasion through many programmes, including Ghosh Vadan (band performances) and Path Sanchalan (route marches) by swayamsevaks. These programmes are organised across the country.
