Manas Dasgupta
NEW DELHI, Sept 17: Diyas and earthen lamps lighted up across multiple river banks in various cities across India to celebrate the 76th birthday of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi giving overwhelming response to the BJP’s call to the people to lit “Aashirwad Ka Diya” to wish him long life as the ruling party also celebrates his 25 years in public service, including his 13 years as the chief minister of Gujarat.
The call for lighting the diyas was part of the BJP’s ‘Seva Sankalp Abhiyan’ programme highlighting Mr Modi’s quarter century of uninterrupted public service, a rarity in electoral life.
Varanasi, his parliamentary constituency in Uttar Pradesh, led the country in marking the grand celebrations along the banks of the Ganga. Scores of earthen lamps were lit at Namo Ghat, Dashashwamedh Ghat and Assi Ghat resembling a “deepotsav” as on the Diwali days. Students and local residents gathered to participate in lighting the lamps alongside the special Ganga Aarti. Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath, the defence minister Rajnath Singh and many other political leaders participated in various evens. A bike rally starting from Varanasi and heading for his home state of Gujarat, was also organised on the occasion.
As part of the programme, thousands of diyas were light up at the Rashtra Prerna Sthal in Uttar Pradesh’s Lucknow in presence of Governor Anandiben Patel, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Deputy Chief Ministers Keshav Prasad Maurya and Brajesh Pathak, and other state ministers and leaders.
Similarly, Madhya Pradesh’s Ujjain was also lit up with diyas. BJP’s national president Nitin Nabin also shared a video on X that showed an aerial of an aarti being performed on the banks of Shipra River in Ujjain in presence of him and Chief Minister Mohan Yadav.
Many earthen lamps were also light up in Kolkata in presence of West Bengal BJP president Samik Bhattacharya and other leaders. BJP leader Locket Chatterjee said the event was being organised to highlight the role of PM Modi in India’s development.
“There is lighting everywhere; across West Bengal and the entire country, people are lighting ‘Aashirwad Ka Diya’ today,” she said. “Our party workers have visited the homes of beneficiaries, and outreach programs have been conducted. Everyone is lighting lamps to offer their reverence to Modi-ji. Numerous programs are underway everywhere, at the booth level, in households, and across districts and government sectors.”
Similar events were held across other parts of India, including Jharkhand where the BJP organised a blood donation camp at party’s state headquarters in Ranchi. “He has done several impossible tasks during his regime as the PM, including abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir, construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya and prohibition of ‘triple talaq’. Modi also eradicated terrorism and left-wing extremism from the country,” Babulal Marandi, BJP leader and Jharkhand’s former chief minister, said.
PM Modi celebrated his 76th birthday on Thursday. Born on September 17, 1950, in Gujarat’s Vadnagar, PM Modi has spent 25 years in public service: 13 years as Gujarat’s chief minister and 12 years as prime minister. Several leaders, including union ministers, BJP MPs and leaders, and world leaders, have extended their greetings on the occasion.