Lal Krishna Advani, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) stalwart and former Deputy Prime Minister of India, entered his 100th year on 8 November 2026, with the party marking the milestone through a special religious ceremony at its central office in New Delhi. His son, Jayant Advani, used the occasion to reflect on the Ram Janmabhoomi movement's decisive role in shaping the BJP's national footprint — and to offer a simple, personal prayer for his father's health.

Special Puja and Havan at BJP Central Office

BJP President Nitin Nabin, along with several senior party leaders, performed a special puja and havan at the BJP Central Office on Sunday to mark the occasion. The ceremony was organised to pray for Advani's good health, longevity, and well-being as he stepped into his centennial year. His children, Pratibha Advani and Jayant Advani, were both present at the event.

Jayant Advani's Message: Gratitude and a Single Prayer

Speaking at the event, Jayant Advani thanked the BJP leadership and party workers for organising the prayers. He kept his message brief and heartfelt. 'I would first like to thank the senior leaders of the party and all the party workers. We have all gathered here today to pray for Advani's good health. May God keep him healthy and bless him with good health for the rest of his life, however long it may be. This is my only prayer to God,' he said.

Jayant's remarks underscored a moment that was as much personal as it was political — a family celebrating a patriarch who spent decades in the thick of India's most consequential political battles.

The Ram Janmabhoomi Movement: An Unforgettable Chapter

Jayant Advani also reflected on the Ram Janmabhoomi movement, calling it an episode the country's political history can never forget. 'That period is always remembered, and it is a time we can never forget. The Ram Janmabhoomi movement, which began in 1990, provided a surge of strength to the party; the wave of support for the BJP that swept across the country emerged precisely following this Ram Mandir movement. Since 1990, we have witnessed the BJP's consistent improvement in performance,' he said.

Notably, the movement — centred on Advani's landmark Rath Yatra of 1990 — is widely credited by BJP leaders and political historians alike as a turning point that transformed the party from a fringe force into a national political giant. This comes amid broader celebrations marking Advani's legacy as one of independent India's most consequential opposition and later ruling-coalition figures.

BJP's Growth: From the Margins to the Mainstream

Jayant further highlighted that the BJP had grown into the country's largest political organisation, with crores of members, a government at the Centre, and administrations across several states. 'I believe that it is thanks to the contributions made by our veteran leaders that we are able to witness the present day — the day we see now,' he added.

The tributes at the ceremony reflected on the arc of a career that spans the founding years of the Jana Sangh, the Emergency period, the BJP's formation in 1980, the Rath Yatra, and Advani's tenure as Deputy Prime Minister under Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

PM Modi Pens Tribute Article

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also marked the occasion by writing a detailed article reflecting on Advani's life, political journey, and lasting contributions to the country. In the piece, Modi highlighted several defining moments of Advani's career, describing his journey as closely intertwined with some of the most significant chapters in modern India's history.

As celebrations continue, all eyes within the BJP will be on how the party officially honours a figure whose ideological groundwork many credit as foundational to its current dominance.