New Delhi, 17 September (H.S.): Prime Minister Narendra Modi turns 76 today, Thursday, as the Bharatiya Janata Party and governments in several states begin programmes to mark his birthday with a month-long campaign centred on public service, welfare outreach and community initiatives.

The nationwide 'Seva Sankalp Abhiyan' will run from September 17 to October 17. Activities planned under the campaign include blood-donation and medical camps, cleanliness drives, plantation programmes, public outreach and initiatives to connect beneficiaries with government welfare schemes.

The birthday observances will also mark a significant milestone in Modi’s public career. The BJP will use the month-long campaign to commemorate his 25 years in public service, a journey that began when he became Chief Minister of Gujarat in October 2001 and later led to his becoming Prime Minister in 2014. Over this period, he served as Gujarat Chief Minister for 12 years and seven months and has served as Prime Minister for more than 12 years.

A prominent feature of today's celebrations will be 'Aashirwad Ka Diya', under which people have been encouraged to light an earthen lamp at their homes and offer prayers for the prime minister's health and long life. BJP National President Nitin Nabin has appealed to people to participate in the initiative between 6 pm and 7 pm today.

Nabin is scheduled to attend the Shipra Aarti at Ram Ghat in Ujjain at 6:45 pm, where he will also light the 'Aashirwad Ka Diya'. The programme is part of his two-day visit to Madhya Pradesh to formally launch the party's Seva Sankalp campaign from the state.

Several states have also announced programmes linked to the observances.

In West Bengal, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has announced a month-long 'Seva Sankalp Abhiyan' beginning today. He has appealed to people across the state to light lamps at their homes, institutions and temples on September 17 to mark the prime minister's birthday. The state programme will include service-oriented and public-outreach activities. The campaign in West Bengal has subsequently been scheduled to conclude on October 10 because of the Durga Puja calendar.

In Delhi, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has appealed to residents to participate in the 'Aashirwad Ka Diya' initiative this evening. The Delhi government will conduct a month-long programme featuring blood-donation drives, health camps, cleanliness campaigns, plantation activities and welfare outreach.

In Haryana, Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini has called on residents to light the 'Aashirwad Ka Diya' on September 17. The state will observe the month with programmes focused on public service, participation and outreach.

In Odisha, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has appealed to people to light an 'Aashirwad Ka Diya' at homes, temples or other prominent places on September 17. The appeal is part of the month-long Seva Sankalp Abhiyan in the state, which will also include activities such as plantation drives and blood-donation camps.

In Chhattisgarh, Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai has also urged residents to participate in the Seva Sankalp Abhiyan, with programmes focusing on public welfare, cleanliness and environmental activities.

In Uttarakhand, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has similarly encouraged people to participate in the 'Aashirwad Ka Diya' initiative and other programmes being organised to mark the occasion.

The nationwide campaign follows announcements by BJP president Nitin Nabin, Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda and Union Home Minister Amit Shah regarding the month-long programme. The BJP has planned medical camps, blood-donation drives, cleanliness campaigns, plantation programmes, exhibitions and beneficiary-outreach initiatives during the campaign.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar