Kumar Bahukhandi
Chhattisgarh Glows with ‘Aashirwad Ke Diye’: From illuminated ghats and symbolic diya formations to community celebrations and Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai joining the ceremonial lighting, Chhattisgarh marked Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 76th birthday on Thursday, September 17, 2026, with more than 1.50 crore diyas reported lit across the State under the Seva Sankalp Abhiyan-Photo Credit:channel24india.com via CG/DPR
Citizens across villages and cities join ‘Aashirwad Ke Diye’ initiative as Seva Sankalp Abhiyan begins across the State
Key Highlights
- More than 1.50 crore ‘Aashirwad Ke Diye’ were reported lit across Chhattisgarh on September 17.
- Citizens participated in programmes from villages to cities across the State.
- Women, youth, farmers, workers, students and other sections of society joined the lamp-lighting.
- Diyas were arranged into traditional and symbolic formations at several venues.
- The Seva Sankalp Abhiyan will continue from September 17 to October 17.
Raipur: More than 1.50 crore ‘Aashirwad Ke Diye’ were lit across Chhattisgarh on Thursday , September 17,2026 as citizens participated in a State-wide programme marking Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s birthday and his 25 years in elected executive office.
From villages and urban neighbourhoods to temples, public squares and community spaces, people lit earthen lamps under the Seva Sankalp Abhiyan, turning the opening day of the month-long campaign into a large public-participation exercise. A report published Thursday also put the statewide figure at more than 1.50 crore lamps.
Women, young people, farmers, workers, students, public representatives and other citizens participated in the programmes. At several locations, lamps were arranged into patterns and symbolic formations.
Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai said the occasion reflected appreciation for Modi’s years in public life and linked the programme with the themes of service and nation-building.
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi has dedicated his life to the nation and public service. Under his leadership, India has achieved several unprecedented and historic milestones in development, public welfare and national self-confidence,” Sai said.
He said the Prime Minister continued to work for the country’s people and that India was moving towards new milestones of development under his leadership.
Diyas Become a Symbol of Public Participation
The programme extended across districts, with collective lamp-lighting organised at temples, public grounds, squares and other prominent locations.
Photographs from the programmes show river ghats covered with rows of glowing diyas, lamps arranged in traditional formations and citizens gathering around large illuminated displays.
The scale reported on Thursday was substantially above the 36-lakh-diya target announced before the event, indicating that the final count being reported by organisers included wider participation across the State. The 1.50-crore figure, however, should be treated as the organisers’ reported total rather than an independently audited count.
Seva Sankalp Abhiyan to Continue Until October 17
The Seva Sankalp Abhiyan will continue across Chhattisgarh from September 17 to October 17, with programmes centred on public service and community participation.
Activities during the campaign are intended to connect different sections of society with constructive and welfare-oriented initiatives while carrying the themes of service and good governance to communities across the State.
For its opening day, however, it was the humble earthen lamp that provided the campaign’s most visible symbol — millions of individual diyas collectively illuminating public spaces across Chhattisgarh.
