Fadnavis spends Diwali night at farmer's home in Narkhed, celebrates Bhaubeej with host's wife

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis celebrated Diwali this year with a farming family, with the aim of giving heart and assurance to farmers battered by drought. He travelled to Lohari Savanga village in Narkhed tehsil and spent the night at the home of farmer Rambhau Balpande.

In the morning he ate tarri poha, made by the women of the house, for breakfast and shared the Diwali festivities with the family. Leaving the house, the Chief Minister thanked the family. He said his day had been spent in great joy and that he had also slept well at night.

Rambhau's wife Arunatai performed the aarti for the Chief Minister as for a brother and celebrated Bhaubeej with him. With affection, she told him to bring his wife, her sister-in-law, along next Diwali. The other women of the family also performed his aarti in the traditional way. The Chief Minister in turn gave his sister a gift, observing the ritual of the festival of brothers and sisters.

That morning the Chief Minister also took the Diwali oil bath at the same house.

He said he was very fond of poha and eats it for breakfast at least four days a week. It was cold at night, so the family had lit a bonfire in the courtyard. The Chief Minister said the family had not told him about the bonfire, otherwise he too would have enjoyed its warmth after a long time. Rambhau and Arunatai welcomed him like a member of the family.

Rambhau's sons Pravin and Ajay and daughter-in-law Swati cooked the meal themselves. It was the first Diwali for the family's seven-month-old granddaughter Narayani, and it was celebrated with the Chief Minister. Her father Pravin said, expressing his happiness, that when Narayani grows up they will show her the pictures of Diwali with the Chief Minister.

Leaving the village, Fadnavis told reporters that a close bond had formed with the Balpande family and that they had been very hospitable. According to him, farmer Rambhau Balpande also suffered the blow of drought but did not lose heart. The Chief Minister said three account holders in the family had received the benefit of the loan waiver, which was a matter of satisfaction.

Fadnavis also said the Balpande family joins the pilgrimage to Pandharpur and worships Lord Vitthal. According to him, such families have the strength to face difficult circumstances.

During breakfast the Chief Minister met 75-year-old Kamalabai Manerao, who cannot work because of her age. She asked that her goat-rearing proposal be taken forward and that her differently abled son be given financial help. The Chief Minister directed immediate action on these matters. He also asked that the possibility of getting Kamalabai the benefit of the destitute grant scheme be examined.

The Chief Minister spoke by mobile phone to Rameshwari Savarkar, a relative of the family who lives in Mumbai. He told her to come and meet him if she had any trouble in Mumbai.