Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday, 30 October 2026, addressed a large 'Khatla Sabha' in Bhildi, Banaskantha, Gujarat — a distinctive public gathering where attendees sat on traditional village cots known as charpoys. The event, which connected farmers from across the country via technology, also marked the completion of 25 years of Modi's public service.

A Gathering That Could Have Entered the Record Books

Addressing the crowd, Prime Minister Modi drew attention to the unusual seating arrangement, saying the revival of the age-old village practice made the event unlike any other. He suggested that the organisers could have secured a place in the Guinness World Records had they approached the record-keeping body in advance.

'Perhaps the people of the world would be surprised to see that everyone in this gathering is sitting on charpoys. Banaskantha has kept this great tradition of our villages alive today,' Modi said.

Modi's First Public Programme as Gujarat CM — Also in Banaskantha

The Prime Minister linked the visit to a personal milestone, recalling that his very first major public programme after being appointed Gujarat Chief Minister in 2001 had been held in the same region. That event — a Lok Kalyan Mela — had reportedly drawn a crowd of around three lakh people, a record Modi said he believed had not been broken since.

'Where I began my journey, I have got an opportunity today to give an account of 25 years of service,' Modi said. The sentimental homecoming gave the rally an additional layer of significance beyond its programmatic announcements.

National Reach Through Technology

Modi acknowledged that farmers from every district of the country and every village of Gujarat were connected to the event through technology, prompting him to switch from Gujarati to Hindi mid-address so that participants across the country could follow along. He sought the audience's permission before doing so — a gesture widely noted by those present.

He also paid tribute to Maa Amba, describing the occasion as an opportunity to visit the sacred land associated with the goddess during the auspicious period of Navratri.

Key Officials and Project Launches

Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi, and Assembly Speaker Shankar Chaudhary were among the senior officials present at the event. Earlier in the programme, the Prime Minister launched and dedicated several projects related to women, children, farmers, and livestock owners. He also released the latest instalment of the PM-KISAN scheme, directly benefiting agricultural families connected to the gathering.

What This Means for Banaskantha and Gujarat

This comes amid the broader government push to strengthen rural identity, agricultural welfare, and grassroots participation in governance. The Khatla Sabha format — rooted in the village practice of holding community discussions on cots — is seen as a symbolic effort to bridge formal governance and local tradition. Notably, Banaskantha now figures twice in Modi's political narrative: as the launch pad of his public life and as the venue marking its silver jubilee milestone. All eyes will be on whether the Khatla Sabha model is replicated across other states.