RSS Centenary Marked by Marches Across South Dinajpur on Mahalaya

Senior Correspondent.TOD.Balurghat

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) organised a series of Path Sanchalan (marches) across South Dinajpur district on Saturday to mark its centenary, as the organisation’s nationwide centenary observances coincided with the auspicious occasion of Mahalaya.The main procession began at around 4 p.m. from the Balurghat High School grounds, bringing together swayamsevaks from 49 mandals across South Dinajpur, along with participants from the Balurghat and Gangarampur urban units.

 The march proceeded through various streets of Balurghat, drawing attention to the organisation’s milestone anniversary. Ravikanta Barman, the RSS district sanghchalak for South Dinajpur, was among those present, alongside other members of the organisation. He said the procession was organised as the concluding event of the centenary celebrations that began on September 25 last year.The programme extended beyond Balurghat, with similar gatherings held in different parts of the district.

In Safanagar and Dangarhat in Kumarganj block, more than a hundred swayamsevaks participated in the centenary observances, reflecting the organisation’s presence in rural areas.The marches formed part of the RSS’s broader nationwide centenary programme, marking 100 years since the organisation’s founding in 1925. The anniversary has provided an occasion for the organisation to hold public programmes and commemorative activities across the country.Mahalaya, which heralds the beginning of the countdown to Durga Puja and holds deep cultural and spiritual significance in Bengal, added a distinct seasonal context to the observances.

Across the state, the day traditionally marks the transition towards the festive season, when communities begin preparing for the arrival of Goddess Durga.In South Dinajpur, the marches brought together participants from urban centres and rural blocks, making the centenary observance a district-wide event. The programme concluded a year of commemorative activities while connecting the organisation’s milestone anniversary with a day of particular significance in Bengal’s cultural calendar.