Daijiworld Media Network - Varanasi/New Delhi
Varanasi/New Delhi, Sep 17: Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 76th birthday is being marked with a series of programmes across the country, with special prayers, lamp-lighting ceremonies, blood donation camps and the launch of the month-long 'Seva Sankalp Abhiyan'.
In Varanasi, Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and Union Minister Chirag Paswan participated in special prayers at the Kashi Vishwanath Temple on Thursday. Prayers were offered for Modi's long life and well-being, with rituals conducted at 11 havan kunds amid the chanting of special mantras. A Maharudrabhishek of Baba Vishwanath was also performed.
The celebrations in Varanasi also marked the launch of the BJP's month-long 'Seva Sankalp Abhiyan', commemorating Modi's 25 years in public life. Rajnath Singh and Yogi Adityanath flagged off the Seva Sankalp Bike Yatra from Varanasi towards Vadnagar, Modi's birthplace, in Gujarat. A parallel bike yatra was flagged off from Vadnagar towards Varanasi.
The two-way motorcycle journey will cover 20 routes named after sacred rivers and pass through 10 states, 193 districts, 773 tehsils and more than 1,100 villages. The yatris will carry sacred river water for rituals at Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi and Shri Hatkeshwar Mahadev Temple in Vadnagar. The campaign and yatras are scheduled to continue until October 7, with the wider Seva Sankalp Abhiyan running for a month.
In Vadnagar, Union Home Minister Amit Shah flagged off the bike yatra to Varanasi in the presence of Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghvi and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, among others. Leaders offered prayers for Modi's long life before the yatra began.
The birthday celebrations have also been linked to Modi's 25 years in public service, beginning with his tenure as Gujarat Chief Minister in 2001. The BJP has planned service-oriented programmes including blood donation camps, distribution of fruits at hospitals, felicitation of artisans and distribution of toolkits on Vishwakarma Jayanti.
Across Delhi, the 'Ashirwad Ka Diya' programme is being observed, with people encouraged to light lamps at their homes between 6 pm and 7 pm and pray for Modi's long life and good health. Prime Minister Modi later expressed gratitude for the affection and blessings associated with the initiative, saying the gesture had deeply touched him.
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta also participated in a 100-kundi havan at the Khatushyam Temple in Alipur and prayed for Modi's long life. A blood donation camp was organised at Thyagaraj Stadium, where Gupta also donated blood.
BJP national president Nitin Nabin donated blood at a camp organised at the party headquarters in Delhi as part of the Seva Sankalp Abhiyan. He appealed to party workers and citizens to participate in the campaign and said the initiative was aimed at encouraging public participation in service activities.
The celebrations extend beyond Delhi and Uttar Pradesh. Gujarat has organised extensive lamp-lighting programmes, with more than 88 lakh earthen lamps planned at over 18,500 locations under the 'Aashirvad No Divdo' initiative. Other programmes in the state include the lighting of 76,000 diyas in Ahmedabad, distribution of saplings and welfare-oriented activities.
The nationwide celebrations are being held alongside the launch of the BJP's 'Seva Sankalp Abhiyan', which focuses on service, public outreach and welfare activities while commemorating Modi's 25 years in public life.