Party marks PM Modi's 76th birthday with ceremonial lighting at Shimla headquarters
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Shimla organised an 'Ashirwad Ka Diya' programme at its state headquarters on the occasion of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 76th birthday, lighting 108 lamps and launching a month-long 'Seva Sankalp Abhiyan', a party release said.
Hundreds of party workers and office-bearers attended the event at the Shimla headquarters, where they offered prayers for the Prime Minister’s health and long life. BJP State General Secretary (Organisation) Siddharthan was the chief guest at the ceremony, the release added.
"Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 25 years of service as Chief Minister and Prime Minister reflect his commitment to public welfare, good governance and national development," BJP State Secretary Sumit Sharma said, according to the release.
Addressing the gathering, Sumit Sharma highlighted the Prime Minister's focus on development and welfare initiatives since he became Chief Minister of Gujarat in 2001 and after taking office as Prime Minister in 2014. The party statement said Sharma referred to priorities such as empowerment of women, support for farmers, youth development, infrastructure expansion and digital transformation.
Seva Sankalp Abhiyan launched
On the occasion, the party also inaugurated a month-long Seva Sankalp Abhiyan. The release described the ceremony as rooted in India's cultural traditions and reflective of the party's emphasis on service and dedication, but did not furnish details of the specific activities planned under the campaign.
- Event: 'Ashirwad Ka Diya' ceremony at BJP state headquarters, Shimla
- Lamps lit: 108 ceremonial lamps
- Campaign launched: Month-long 'Seva Sankalp Abhiyan'
- Chief guest: Siddharthan, BJP State General Secretary (Organisation)
The programme, held at the party's Shimla office, drew participation from senior leaders, state office-bearers and a large number of party workers who gathered to extend birthday greetings to the Prime Minister and collectively offer prayers for his well-being and the nation's progress.
Sumit Sharma, according to the party release, also referred to the Prime Minister's Viksit Bharat 2047 vision, saying it aims to transform India into a developed nation by the centenary of independence. The party described the event as symbolising service-oriented work and cultural ethos.
Local political context and reactions
While the ceremony was religiously and culturally themed, it also served as a local show of organisational unity ahead of coming political activities. The launch of the Seva Sankalp Abhiyan at the state headquarters in Shimla signals the party intends to mobilise its volunteers across the state during the month, the release indicated, though no schedule or list of districts and activities was provided.
There was no immediate information in the release about how the campaign will be implemented at the municipal or panchayat level in Shimla district, or whether it will involve public services, cleanliness drives, outreach to beneficiaries of central schemes, or other activities commonly associated with party-run public campaigns.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Occasion | Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 76th birthday |
| Location | BJP state headquarters, Shimla |
| Principal attendees | Siddharthan; Sumit Sharma; senior leaders and workers |
| Activity | Lighting of 108 lamps; launch of Seva Sankalp Abhiyan |
The party release framed the ceremony as both a cultural observance and an organisational recommitment to public service. It did not contain statements from non-BJP actors or independent observers about the event. Local residents and civic authorities were not quoted in the release, and details on follow-up actions under the newly launched campaign remain to be released by the party.
As of the party statement, the programme underlined the BJP's continued use of symbolic events at its Shimla headquarters to mark national milestones and to rally local cadres in the state.
