Leaders Gather at Kashi Vishwanath to Mark PM Modi’s Birthday

On the afternoon of September 17, 2026 – the day the nation celebrates Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s birthday – the sanctum of the Kashi Vishwanath Temple was buzzing with a rather unusual gathering. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Andhra Pradesh’s chief minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, Uttar Pradesh’s chief minister Yogi Adityanath, Union minister Chirag Paswan and BJP state president‑turned‑minister of state Pankaj Chaudhary stood shoulder‑to‑shoulder, their heads bowed in prayer.

Rajnath Singh, speaking to reporters after the ceremony, said the group had come “to pray for the Prime Minister’s long and healthy life and for the realisation of a ‘Viksit Bharat’.” He added that the rituals were performed with due reverence and that every participant felt a deep sense of responsibility toward the nation’s future.

Yogi Adityanath, ever the firebrand, described the occasion as a matter of “pride and good fortune.” He asked the deity for Modi’s good health, for the continuity of his leadership, and for India’s 140 crore citizens to witness a self‑reliant, secure, and fully developed nation. “We also hope that India races ahead to become the world’s number‑one economy,” he said, a hopeful note that lingered in the humid Varanasi air.

Naidu, whose words often blend optimism with a dash of gravitas, called the day “historic.” He praised Modi for steering India to “great glory” and predicted that, within the next 25 years, the country would transform into a fully developed nation under his guidance. “Celebrating his birthday here in Kashi is a reminder that serving the nation is not an option, but a duty,” he told ANI.

The ceremony also recognised the humble hands that keep the temple clean. Sanitation workers serving at Baba Vishwanath Dham were felicitated, a small but poignant gesture that underscored the inclusive spirit of the gathering.

After the prayers, laddoos were handed out as prasad to a group of bikers who will embark on a symbolic ride from Varanasi to Vadnagar, Modi’s birthplace. Their mission: to spread the message of the Prime Minister’s 25 years of public service across the length and breadth of India.

Meanwhile, the BJP has launched a month‑long “Seva Sankalp Abhiyan,” running from September 17 to October 17, to commemorate Modi’s birthday. The campaign rolls out a series of service‑oriented programmes, encouraging citizens to engage in community work, clean‑up drives, and other grassroots activities.

Born in 1950 in Vadnagar, Gujarat, Narendra Modi’s journey from a tea‑seller’s son to the nation’s prime minister has become a touchstone for many Indians. As leaders gathered at one of Hinduism’s holiest shrines, their collective prayers echoed a simple yet profound hope: that the country continues on its path of growth, unity, and aspiration.