Five-day Rani Avanti Garba festival begins in Gondia, dedicated to five great women

The first Rani Avanti Garba Mahotsav 2026 has begun in Gondia. The event is being held as an example of religious harmony, social amity and cultural unity. The five-day festival, at the Gopaldas Agrawal ground behind the gurdwara in Railtoli, will run from October 13 to 17, 2026, and opened amid great enthusiasm.

The festival is not limited to entertainment or garba. It is linked to the lives, sacrifices and struggles of five great mothers of Indian history. The contributions to nation-building of Rajmata Jijau, Savitribai Phule, Rani Avanti Bai Lodhi, Ahilyabai Holkar and Mata Ramabai Ambedkar are being held up as inspiration during the event.

The organisers said their aim is to build good values in the new generation, promote women's empowerment and spread the message of social equality. People of different religions, castes and communities are taking part without discrimination, which is strengthening the spirit of "sarva dharma samabhava", they said. Speakers also stressed that making women strong and educated should be society's top priority.

The programme was formally inaugurated by Gondia Superintendent of Police Gorakh Bhamre, municipal council president Sachin Shende, Praful Agrawal, Lodhi Samaj district president Kundan Bhau Katare, youth district president Atul Shende, OBC organisation convener and editor Khemendra Katre, market committee director Ashish Girjashankar Nagpure, former panchayat samiti member Guddu Lilhare, Naresh Nagpure, Madan Chikhlonde, Nikhil Chikhlonde, Devendra Damahe, Raja Isarka, Pankaj Agrawal, Dr Sachin Kelanka, Shrishti Kelanka, Shubham Agrawal, Ajay Lilhare, Dilip Lilhare and Milan Lilhare.

Office-bearers of the Rani Avanti Garba Samiti and the Lodhi Kshatrani organisation, along with a large number of citizens, were present. They included Yuvraj Birnwar, Vivek Maskare, Sunil Nagpure, Ashok Nagpure, Suresh Lilhare, Nandkishore Birnwar, Adv Sunil Lilhare, Prem Basne, Dharmendra Nagpure, Suryakant Nagpure, Umaprasad Upwanshi, Shubham Nagpure, Dhruv Nagpure, Vikas Nagpure, Prithviraj Dasare, Durendra Machhirke, Satish Nagpure, Sachin Bande, Umesh Bhambare, Praveen Dhamde, Urmila Nagpure, Bhagyashree Nagpure, Surekha Shende, Reena Nagpure, Veena Lilhare and Rekha Mandiya.

Kundan Bhau Katare, Lodhi Samaj Gondia district president, gave the introductory address. Shiv Nagpure conducted the programme and Atul Shende proposed the vote of thanks. Atul Satdeve and Prabhat Jaiswal gave special support in making the event a success. According to the organisers, the festival carries forward the message that culture should find expression through festivals, that women's strength should guide society, and that "sarva dharma samabhava" should be the foundation of social unity.