LK Advani turns 100: BJP performs havan, leaders pay tribute to Bharat Ratna
Synopsis
LK Advani — Bharat Ratna, BJP co-founder, and the man whose 1990 Rath Yatra rewrote Indian politics — turns 100. The BJP marked the milestone with a havan at its Central Office, as President Nitin Nabin and Home Minister Amit Shah paid tribute to the leader they credit with building the party machine that governs India today.
Key Takeaways
BJP President Nitin Nabin led a puja and havan at the BJP Central Office, New Delhi on 8 November 2026 to mark LK Advani's 100th birthday .
Lal Krishna Advani is a Bharat Ratna recipient and former Deputy Prime Minister of India, widely credited as a co-architect of the modern BJP.
BJP chief Nitin Nabin posted birthday greetings on X , crediting Advani with building the party's leadership team and driving the Ram Janmabhoomi movement.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah called Advani 'a symbol of service to the nation' and 'a principled statesman' in his own post on X .
Advani's centenary marks over six decades of involvement in Indian politics, from the Jana Sangh to the founding of the BJP.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Nitin Nabin, along with senior party leaders, on Sunday, 8 November 2026, performed a special puja and havan at the BJP Central Office in New Delhi to mark the 100th birthday of veteran leader and former Deputy Prime Minister Lal Krishna Advani. The religious ceremony was organised to pray for Advani's health and well-being as he enters his centenary year.
BJP Chief's Tribute to a Party Founding Father
Nitin Nabin extended his greetings to Advani on the social media platform X, describing him as a Bharat Ratna recipient, former Deputy Prime Minister, and 'guide to us all.' In his post, Nabin wrote: 'From the Jana Sangh to the Bharatiya Janata Party, you have made an unforgettable contribution to expanding the organisation, taking the nationalist ideology to every citizen, and turning the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi movement into a mass movement. Your integrity in public life and unwavering commitment to the organisation will always be a source of inspiration for all BJP workers.'
In a separate video message, Nabin credited Advani with shaping the party's leadership pipeline, saying: 'The life of Advani ji is an inspiration for all of us. His commitment to the ideology has made the BJP, a party with a difference.' He further noted that the leadership team Advani helped build during his tenure is today leading not just the party but the nation.
Amit Shah Calls Advani a 'Living Example of Putting the Nation First'
Union Home Minister Amit Shah also marked the occasion on X, calling Advani 'a symbol of service to the nation, an architect of the BJP, and a principled statesman.' Shah wrote: 'Respected Shri Lal Krishna Advani Ji… completes 99 years today and steps into the 100th year of his life. On behalf of crores of BJP workers, I extend my heartfelt birthday wishes to him.'
Shah further noted Advani's journey — 'From a humble family background to becoming a founding member of the BJP, its National President, and the Deputy Prime Minister of the country, Advani Ji's life in every role has been a living example of public service and putting the nation first.'
Advani's Legacy: From Jana Sangh to Bharat Ratna
Lal Krishna Advani is widely regarded as one of the principal architects of the modern BJP. He served as Deputy Prime Minister under Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and was a driving force behind the Rath Yatra movement in 1990, which is credited with transforming the BJP from a marginal political force into a national one. He was conferred the Bharat Ratna — India's highest civilian honour — in recognition of his decades of public service. His centenary birthday marks a rare milestone for a figure who has shaped Indian politics across more than six decades.
What This Moment Signals for the BJP
The ceremony at the BJP Central Office, attended by the party's top leadership, reflects the organisation's effort to reinforce its founding ideological heritage at a time when the party commands a dominant national presence. Notably, tributes from both the party president and the home minister on a single day underscore the institutional weight Advani continues to carry within the BJP — even in his centenary year. The occasion is likely to be followed by further party-level events in the days ahead.
Point of View
Simultaneous posts from both the BJP president and the home minister — signals something beyond routine birthday protocol. Advani's centenary is being used to anchor the BJP's founding narrative at a moment when a new generation of leadership, one he mentored, runs both the party and the government. What is less remarked upon is the arc: Advani was once sidelined within the very party he helped build, and his rehabilitation as an icon accelerated only after political circumstances shifted. The centenary tribute is as much a statement about institutional memory as it is about the man himself.
NationPress
8 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is LK Advani's 100th birthday significant?
Lal Krishna Advani's 100th birthday on 8 November 2026 marks the centenary of one of the BJP's principal founding figures, a former Deputy Prime Minister and Bharat Ratna awardee whose political career spans over six decades. He is credited with transforming the BJP from a small party into a national force through movements such as the 1990 Rath Yatra.
What ceremony did the BJP hold for Advani's birthday?
BJP President Nitin Nabin led a special puja and havan at the BJP Central Office in New Delhi on 8 November 2026, organised to pray for Advani's good health as he enters his centenary year. Senior party leaders attended the ceremony.
What did Home Minister Amit Shah say about LK Advani?
Amit Shah posted on X calling Advani 'a symbol of service to the nation, an architect of the BJP, and a principled statesman.' He described Advani's journey from a humble background to becoming BJP National President and Deputy Prime Minister as a living example of putting the nation first.
When was LK Advani awarded the Bharat Ratna?
LK Advani was conferred the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian honour, in recognition of his decades of public service and contribution to Indian politics. The exact year of conferral is not specified in available reports for this story.
