Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ancestral hometown of Vadnagar, Gujarat, erupted in celebration on 6 June as the country marked his 12th year in office — a milestone that makes him India's longest-serving elected Prime Minister. A grand 'Maha Aarti' and a lamp-lighting ceremony at the historic Sharmistha Lake headlined the festivities organised by the local administration and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Key Celebrations in Vadnagar

The Vadnagar administration arranged a Maha Aarti in the late evening, after which 10,000 lamps were set to be lit along the banks of Sharmistha Lake. The ceremonies were held at a 2,200-year-old temple in the town, lending the occasion a historic and spiritual dimension. Childhood acquaintances of Modi from his early years in Vadnagar were also expected to attend the event.

A separate series of programmes was organised by the BJP state unit at the Hatkeshwar Mahadev Temple, encompassing a cleanliness drive and a felicitation ceremony honouring sanitation workers. Gujarat BJP President Jagdish Vishwakarma led the grand Maha Aarti at the temple in the evening, drawing party workers, citizens, and devotees in large numbers.

What Locals Said

Residents of Vadnagar expressed pride in Modi's rise from their town to the nation's highest elected office. Heli Ben, a local resident, said: 'The Prime Minister has done commendable work in the last 12 years. Women-centric schemes like Namo Laxmi Yojana and Saraswati Yojana have proved instrumental in changing people's lives. As PM Modi comes from Gujarat's Vadnagar, we feel extremely proud of it.'

Another resident highlighted the Sakhi Mandal initiative, saying it had 'brought tremendous change in the lives of poor women.' Vishnu Ji Thakor, an advocate, described Modi as 'the pradhan sevak of the country,' adding that 'his every decision and programme is directed towards empowerment of the poor and downtrodden people and also the nation's sustained development.'

The 12-Year Milestone

Modi was first sworn in as Prime Minister on 26 May 2014, and his uninterrupted tenure through three consecutive terms has now surpassed that of earlier long-serving prime ministers to make him the country's longest-serving elected Prime Minister. Locals cited decisions such as the abrogation of Article 370 and the construction of the Ram Mandir as defining moments of his tenure that resonate strongly in Vadnagar.

BJP's Nationwide Observance

The Vadnagar events are part of a broader set of programmes being organised across the country by the BJP to mark the occasion. The party's Gujarat unit chose to anchor its flagship events in Vadnagar, underscoring the symbolic importance of the Prime Minister's birthplace to the party's narrative of his journey from a small Gujarati town to the country's top office. How these celebrations translate into political capital ahead of upcoming state elections will be closely watched.