Rajim · Gariaband · 1–15 February 2026

Rajim Kumbh Kalp

राजिम कुंभ कल्प

The Magh fair at the meeting of the Mahanadi, the Pairi and the Sondur, from Magh Purnima to Maha Shivaratri. The state calls Rajim Chhattisgarh’s Prayag. Rajesh Agrawal invited the Chief Minister, inspected the ground, and attended the fair.

On the mela stage. The backdrop names Kuleshwar Mahadev and Pateshwar Mahadev. Rajesh Agrawal is in the dark vest.

Dates: 1–15 February 2026
Opens: Magh Purnima
Closes: Maha Shivaratri
Rivers: Mahanadi, Pairi, Sondur
Fairground: Chaube Bandha
District: Gariaband

Rajesh Agrawal at the meeting where the Chief Minister was invited — Rajesh Agrawal, in the dark vest, at the courtesy call. IBC24 reported the invitation on 30 January 2026, at the Chief Minister’s residence.

30 January 2026

He invites the Chief Minister

IBC24 reported that Rajesh Agrawal called on Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai and invited him to Rajim Kumbh Kalp 2026. Raipur Commissioner Mahadev Kavre and Gariaband Collector B. S. Uike were present. The Chief Minister accepted, congratulated the organisers, and called the fair a mahaparv for the state’s cultural unity as well as its religious life.

The same report said the government had ordered liquor shops in the district and nearby to stay closed for the fifteen days of the fair, and had barred the sale of meat around the mela ground. IBC24’s own account of the fair lists a ground of about 60 acres, more than 2,000 shops, akharas, a tent city on the Prayagraj pattern, and a gathering it describes as more than five lakh. Those are that outlet’s figures, not a counted attendance published by the department.

On film

The inspection

Before the fair he reviewed the work at his residential office in Nava Raipur and on the ground at Rajim. The department’s note lists drinking water, toilets, health services, security, movement, parking, power and lighting, repaired approach roads, temporary toilets, medical camps, a crowd and traffic plan, CCTV, a control room, ambulances and first-aid posts. His Facebook post calls the Rajim visit a site inspection of the 2026 preparations.

IBC24. IBC24’s report of Rajesh Agrawal inspecting the arrangements. Watch on YouTube

INH 24x7. INH 24x7 on the same round of preparations. Watch on YouTube

Rajesh Agrawal, in a dark vest, with saints at a lamp during Rajim Kumbh Kalp — Rajesh Agrawal, in the dark vest, with saints at a lamp. ETV Bharat reported that he and the Governor had darshan at Rajiv Lochan and joined the Mahanadi aarti.

2 February 2026

The Governor opens the mela

ETV Bharat reported that Governor Ramen Deka inaugurated Rajim Kumbh Kalp at the new fairground. Before that, the Governor and Rajesh Agrawal had darshan at the Rajiv Lochan temple and joined the Mahanadi aarti. The Governor called Rajim a symbol of Chhattisgarh’s faith, a meeting of Shaiva and Vaishnava tradition, with Vishnu as Rajivalochan and Shiva as Kuleshwar Mahadev.

Rajesh Agrawal said the fair was carrying the state’s folk culture to a wider world. Divisional Commissioner Mahadev Kavre called it a sign of faith and social harmony. Sant Rajiv Lochan Maharaj spoke of the series that began in 2006. Patrika had reported the programme as an inauguration on 1 February, Magh Purnima, with the minister presiding. ETV’s account of the opening is dated 2 February.

15 February 2026

Maha Shivaratri, the closing

Amar Ujala reported the closing at the new ground, Rajim Chaube Bandha, on the Triveni bank. Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai was the chief guest. He offered flowers to the image of Rajiv Lochan and called Rajim Chhattisgarh’s Prayag. He said the ground would be made more orderly in the years ahead.

Rajesh Agrawal, quoted there, called the fair a living festival of the state’s cultural identity, said arrangements had been made for devotees, and repeated the aim of building Rajim into a religious tourism centre, with work for people who live there. Food Minister Dayaldas Baghel said that year’s theme was the Panchkosi dham and the twelve jyotirlingas. Rajim MLA Rohit Sahu said the credit for holding the fair at the new ground belonged to the Chief Minister.

Rajim Kumbh Kalp is a living festival of Chhattisgarh’s cultural identity and spiritual tradition.
Rajesh Agrawal, as reported by Amar Ujala, 15 February 2026.

Rajesh Agrawal speaking at a table of microphones — Rajesh Agrawal speaking. Amar Ujala quoted him at the Maha Shivaratri closing on 15 February.

During the fifteen days

At the sangam

The department reported that he reached the Triveni bank, met dharmacharyas and saints from the akharas and peeths, and took their blessing. He spoke to devotees, heard complaints, and asked for them to be dealt with at once. He tasted Chhattisgarhi food cooked by Bihan didis. The note names cheela, fara and thethri.

The courtesy call. IBC24 reported that Rajesh Agrawal invited Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai at the Chief Minister’s residence. Commissioner Mahadev Kavre and Gariaband Collector B. S. Uike were also there.
The ground inspection. The board marks an entry point. His Facebook post describes a site inspection of the Rajim Kumbh Kalp 2026 preparations.
On the open ground at Rajim, during the inspection of the fair layout.
Papers being shown on the ground during the same inspection.
Rajesh Agrawal at the review. The department’s note of the Nava Raipur meeting lists water, toilets, health, security, roads, CCTV and a control room.
Calendars held at the review. The sheets show July 2026. The fair itself was 1–15 February.
Rajesh Agrawal speaking to the press.
On the mela stage. The backdrop names Kuleshwar Mahadev and Pateshwar Mahadev. Rajesh Agrawal is in the dark vest.
With saints at a lamp during the fair. ETV Bharat reported that he joined the Governor for darshan at Rajiv Lochan and for the Mahanadi aarti.
Rajiv Lochan Temple, Rajim. Abhi91m, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. The 2026 fairground was at Chaube Bandha, not in this frame.
Rajiv Lochan Temple from the side. Abhi91m, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Sources

Reports

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