Mahua laddoo, a smile and CM’s warmth — little Bhoomika wins every heart at Nuakhai Milan

Raipur, September 21

Sometimes, the most powerful moments in politics are not in speeches or grand inaugurations, but in small, tender gestures. Such a moment unfolded at the Dhurwa Samaj’s Nuakhai Milan in Jagdalpur when Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai picked up four-year-old Bhoomika Baghel in his arms and fed her a traditional Mahua laddoo.

The little girl, from Ulnar village in Jagdalpur block, had arrived with her grandfather, Sonsari Baghel. Clad in her community’s traditional attire, Bhoomika instantly drew attention with her innocence. When CM Sai asked her name and which class she studied in, her simple reply — “I study in LKG at Deepti Convent School” — accompanied by a radiant smile, melted the gathering.

For those present, it was more than a ceremonial exchange. Bhoomika’s smile, her gleaming eyes and colorful dress became a reflection of Bastar’s living culture, its vibrancy and its hope. Many in the audience said later that the CM’s gesture “brought the festival alive with real emotion.”

In his remarks, CM Sai lauded the Dhurwa Samaj for its landmark decision last year to make education compulsory up to Class 12 for all children. “Education and values are what shape the future of our generations,” he said, wishing that Bhoomika and every daughter of Chhattisgarh could soar high in life while staying rooted in their culture.

The moment stood out as an emblem of the CM’s simple style — accessible, affectionate, and deeply tied to tribal society. Observers noted that such personal warmth reassures communities that leadership is not distant, but sharing in their joys and sorrows.

In an event otherwise marked by traditional rituals, community prayers and official announcements, it was the sight of a Chief Minister feeding a laddoo to a little girl that lingered in everyone’s memory — a reminder that governance, at its heart, is also about human touch.