Yogi Adityanath lights 'Aashirwad ka Diya' in Lucknow, hails Modi's 25 years of service
Synopsis
Across India on 17 September, BJP chief ministers and senior ministers lit earthen lamps in a coordinated show of fealty to PM Modi, marking 25 years of his public service. Yogi Adityanath called Modi the 'craftsman of new India'; Amit Shah joined in Ahmedabad. The scale of the event reveals how the BJP is deploying its full organisational weight to reinforce the Modi brand ahead of upcoming electoral battles.
Key Takeaways
Yogi Adityanath lit the 'Aashirwad ka Diya' in Lucknow on 17 September 2026 as part of the BJP's 'Seva Sankalp Abhiyan' .
The campaign marks PM Modi's 25 years of public service with simultaneous events across multiple states.
Adityanath called Modi the 'craftsman of new India' and credited him for India's rise as one of the world's fastest-growing economies.
Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami called Modi the 'architect of modern India' at a parallel event in Dehradun .
Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel participated in the ceremony in Ahmedabad .
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday, 17 September 2026, lit earthen lamps at a ceremony in Lucknow as part of the 'Aashirwad ka Diya' event, extending birthday greetings to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and asserting that India has forged a distinct global identity under his leadership. The event is a central component of the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) nationwide 'Seva Sankalp Abhiyan', launched to commemorate PM Modi's 25 years of public service.
What Adityanath Said
Addressing a gathering at the lamp-lighting ceremony, Chief Minister Adityanath declared: 'Scores of earthen lamps are being lit across the country to pray for the good health and long life of PM Modi.' He described the event as a 'Rashtra Yagya' — a national offering — and thanked attendees for participating.
Drawing a parallel with Lord Vishwakarma, revered as the divine artisan, Adityanath said: 'PM Modi is the craftsman of new India, who is today one of the most revered global leaders. Under his leadership, India has crafted an identity of its own.' He added that citizens across every field are now expressing pride in the nation.
Adityanath further credited PM Modi for India's rise as one of the world's fastest-growing economies, extending greetings on behalf of the people of Uttar Pradesh.
Scale of the National Campaign
The 'Aashirwad ka Diya' events are being held simultaneously across multiple states, with NDA leaders and ministers lighting lamps at prominent locations and participating in aarti rituals along sacred riverbanks. The BJP positioned the campaign as a public expression of gratitude for the Prime Minister's quarter-century of political service.
In Uttarakhand, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami participated in the ceremony at Dehradun, calling Prime Minister Modi the 'architect of modern India.'
Senior Leaders Join In
Union Home Minister Amit Shah, accompanied by Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, took part in the event in Ahmedabad, underscoring the national scope of the BJP-coordinated campaign.
Context and Significance
This comes as the BJP mobilises its organisational machinery ahead of several state electoral cycles. The 'Seva Sankalp Abhiyan' is notably being framed not merely as a birthday celebration but as an acknowledgement of governance milestones — a strategy the party has employed previously to energise cadres and reinforce the Modi brand at the grassroots. The simultaneous activation of chief ministers and senior Union ministers across multiple states signals a coordinated push to consolidate political messaging around the Prime Minister's persona and record.
Point of View
Visually telegenic, and designed to project unity around the Prime Minister at a moment when the party needs to sustain momentum between election cycles. The simultaneous deployment of chief ministers in Lucknow, Dehradun, and Ahmedabad, alongside Amit Shah, is less about birthday celebration and more about demonstrating organisational reach. What is worth watching is whether such campaigns translate into measurable outreach on governance delivery, or remain primarily symbolic events that energise the faithful without broadening the coalition.
NationPress
17 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the 'Aashirwad ka Diya' event?
'Aashirwad ka Diya' is a lamp-lighting ceremony organised by the BJP as part of its nationwide 'Seva Sankalp Abhiyan', held to mark PM Narendra Modi's 25 years of public service and to pray for his good health and long life. Events were held simultaneously across multiple states on 17 September 2026.
What did Yogi Adityanath say at the Lucknow event?
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath called PM Modi the 'craftsman of new India' and one of the most revered global leaders, crediting him with forging India's distinct international identity and its emergence as one of the world's fastest-growing economies. He also described the gathering as a 'Rashtra Yagya'.
Which other senior leaders participated in the 'Aashirwad ka Diya' campaign?
Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel joined the event in Ahmedabad, while Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami participated in Dehradun, calling Modi the 'architect of modern India'.
What is the 'Seva Sankalp Abhiyan'?
The 'Seva Sankalp Abhiyan' is a BJP-launched initiative marking 25 years of PM Narendra Modi's public service. It involves NDA leaders and ministers lighting lamps at significant venues and conducting aarti rituals at sacred riverbanks across India.
Why is the campaign being organised now?
The campaign coincides with PM Modi's birthday on 17 September and is framed by the BJP as a public acknowledgement of his governance milestones over 25 years in public life, while also serving as a cadre-mobilisation exercise ahead of upcoming electoral cycles.
