New Delhi, Feb 1 (NationPress) Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to visit Dera Sachkhand Ballan in Punjab today to commemorate Ravidass Jayanti, a significant event for the Ravidassia community, which plays a pivotal role in the state's Doaba region, encompassing Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur, Nawanshahr, and Kapurthala districts.

During his visit, the Prime Minister will spend approximately 45 minutes at the dera located on the outskirts of Jalandhar, where he will meet with Sant Niranjan Das, the esteemed leader of the Ravidassia sect and the head of Dera Ballan, who received the Padma Shri award on Republic Day.

According to the Prime Minister’s itinerary, he is expected to arrive at Adampur airport around 3:30 PM and will then take a helicopter to the sect.

This marks PM Modi's return to the Adampur air base since his last visit on May 13, 2025, where he engaged with valiant air warriors shortly after a ceasefire agreement between India and Pakistan.

During his visit, the Prime Minister will also rename the civil airport in Adampur in honor of Guru Ravidass Maharaj, a gesture reflecting the deep sentiments of the Ravidassia community, which has a strong presence in the Doaba region, an area that holds 23 out of 117 Assembly seats, with Dera Sachkhand Ballan influencing at least 19 of those seats.

Additionally, PM Modi will virtually inaugurate a new terminal at the Halwara airport in Ludhiana. This inauguration coincides with the 649th birth anniversary of Sant Guru Ravidass, celebrating the revered saint and social reformer whose teachings of equality and compassion continue to resonate within Indian society.

In a significant enhancement to Punjab's aviation infrastructure, the new terminal at Halwara will serve as a critical access point for Ludhiana and its surrounding industrial and agricultural regions. Halwara, located in Ludhiana district, is also home to a key Indian Air Force station. The previous airport had a limited runway suitable only for smaller aircraft, but the newly developed civil enclave at Halwara boasts an extended runway designed to accommodate larger A320-type aircraft, as stated by officials.

Sant Niranjan Das has dedicated his life to promoting the teachings of Sant Guru Ravidass Maharaj, fostering values of social harmony and humanitarian service.

Last month, Vijay Sampla, former Chairman of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes, alongside Sant Niranjan Das, met with PM Modi to advocate for the renaming of Adampur airport in honor of Guru Ravidass Maharaj.

In anticipation of the Prime Minister's visit, the AAP government in Punjab announced the establishment of the Sri Guru Ravidass Bani Adhayyan Centre near Dera Sachkhand Ballan, acquiring three plots of land valued at Rs 10.50 crore.

Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema described the initiative as “one of its kind in the country,” revealing that the government has registered over nine acres for the Adhayyan Centre.

Cheema expressed the Punjab government's commitment to ensuring that the teachings and ideology of Sri Guru Ravidass are disseminated globally, aligning with the political strategy to garner support from the Ravidassia community ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections.

Dera Ballan, located in Ballan village, approximately eight kilometers from Jalandhar city, was established in the early 20th century by Sant Pipal Das.