India marks Narendra Modi’s birthday with massive lamp-lighting campaign

On September 17, 2026, India marked Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 76th birthday with the ‘Aaashirwad Ka Diya’ campaign. Originally a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) initiative led by President Nitin Nabin to light 25 crore lamps celebrating Mr. Modi’s 25 years in public service, the event evolved into a large-scale national mobilization involving significant civil service participation.

Reports indicate that approximately 13 crore lamps were lit across the country. Major contributions included 5.9 crore lamps in Uttar Pradesh, 1.5 crore in Chhattisgarh, and nearly 80 lakh in Haryana. High-ranking officials, including chief secretaries and district collectors in states such as Assam, Bihar, Haryana, and West Bengal, reportedly oversaw and reviewed the event.

Unofficial estimates suggest the total cost for the lamps, oil, wicks, transport, and mobilization could range between ₹50-75 crore. However, there is currently no public information clarifying whether these expenses were covered by the central government or individual state governments.