NAGPUR: The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) held its annual Vijayadashami celebration at its Reshimbagh headquarters in Nagpur on October 20, marked by traditional grandeur, exemplary discipline and cries of patriotic fervour. At the start of this historic and sacred occasion, the Sangh chief (Sarsanghchalak), Dr Mohan Bhagwat, dressed in full ganvesh, performed the traditional Shastra Pujan to the chanting of mantras. After the ritual, , the Sangh’s first Sarsanghchalak and founder, bowing in homage and reaffirming the pledge to build the nation. He was joined by Sanjay Gupta, a distinguished senior journalist and Editor-in-Chief of Dainik Jagran, who also offered floral tributes at the samadhi of the RSS founder. Dr Bhagwat then took to the stage to deliver his eagerly awaited annual Vijayadashami address to the swayamsevaks and members of the intelligentsia.
A banyan tree of cultural consciousness and nation-building
The seed of the Sangh, sown by Dr Keshav Baliram Hedgewar on Vijayadashami in 1925, has now completed 101 years of an unbroken and illustrious journey. The resolve to organise society, which began in Nagpur, has grown into a vast banyan tree. From relief work during Partition to the liberation of Goa and the restoration of democracy against the Emergency, the Sangh’s service to the nation has been incomparable. The pledge taken by the revered Doctor Ji to unite society and instil character and patriotism in citizens has borne fruit: today, crores of swayamsevaks are strengthening the country across many fields.
The organisation has now emerged as the living consciousness of India’s cultural renaissance. The great mission of building the nation through building the individual, with which the RSS began its journey, has become an immense source of inspiration for every citizen. Its journey of more than a century is a story of walking shoulder to shoulder with the nation on every front, from service to prosperity to security.
Indeed, today’s celebration was not merely the foundation day of one organisation. It offered a vivid demonstration of the swayamsevaks’ collective commitment to take India to the pinnacle of Param Vaibhav, built on the Panch Pran, and to turn the vision of a Viksit Bharat by 2047 into reality on the ground.
Guests of honour: Senior journalist Sanjay Gupta
The presence of several distinguished dignitaries added to the stature of this year’s Vijayadashami celebration. The chief guest was Sanjay Gupta, a distinguished senior journalist and Editor-in-Chief of Dainik Jagran. Among the special invitees, the presence of Jagdeep Dhankhar, former Vice-President of India, lent the event ideological and national significance. Another major draw, with a global dimension, was Yaniv Revach, Consul General of Israel in Mumbai. Against the backdrop of international diplomacy and current geopolitical circumstances, the presence of an Israeli diplomat at the Sangh’s most prominent annual platform is being read as a significant strategic signal worldwide.
Shastra Pujan and Pradakshina Sanchalan: a remarkable display of discipline
The scene at the Reshimbagh grounds during the celebration was spectacular and highly disciplined. In keeping with Sangh tradition, weapons are worshipped on Vijayadashami as a symbol of the balance between strength and peace. Thousands of swayamsevaks assembled on the grounds then carried out the Pradakshina Sanchalan.
In the Sangh’s history, such a march is held only on especially significant occasions, such as annual varg camps or the Vijayadashami celebration. To the melodious, patriotic strains of the band, trained swayamsevaks in full ganvesh marched along a fixed route, step for step and shoulder to shoulder, showing the nation their collective strength and discipline. As it circled the venue, the path sanchalan stirred a sense of national security and unity among the citizens present.
A new resolve after the centenary year
At this new milestone in its 101st year, the Sangh has sent a clear message: in the years ahead, serving the person at the very last rung of society and safeguarding the nation will take precedence over all else. In this age of transformation, the swayamsevaks’ divine mission stands like a sturdy banyan tree, lending the country ideological strength against internal and external challenges. The grand event, held under the leadership of the Sarsanghchalak, once again proved that the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh is not merely an organisation but a living symbol of India’s fundamental cultural and social consciousness.
