Bhubaneswar: On Thursday, the historic Mukteswar Temple was aglow with over 11,000 oil lamps as thousands of women and youth took part in the ‘Ashirwadara Deepa’ (Lamp of Blessings) event organized by the state government to commemorate Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 76th birthday.

This event, part of the ‘Seva Sankalp Abhiyan-2026’, featured women lighting lamps throughout the temple grounds, accompanied by the evening aarti, the sound of conch-shells, and devotional performances from well-known Odia singers.

Among those attending the lamp-lighting ceremony were Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida, Revenue Minister Suresh Pujari, Ekamra MLA Babu Singh, and Brahmagiri MLA Upasana Mahapatra.

Majhi took the opportunity to engage with the youth present, commending their involvement in the initiative.

In remarks to the media, the chief minister conveyed birthday wishes to Modi, stating that the lamps represented the blessings from the people of Odisha for the Prime Minister’s longevity, health, and happiness.

He also reiterated Odisha’s commitment to realizing Modi’s vision and expressed optimism that India would rise to become a “Vishwaguru”.

The occasion was further enhanced by devotional bhajans sung by prominent Odia artists, contributing to the celebratory ambiance at the temple.

The state government reported that over one crore ‘Ashirwadara Deepa’ lamps have been lit statewide as part of this campaign, with families participating by lighting lamps in their homes. Members of self-help groups and beneficiaries of the Subhadra scheme also took part in this initiative.

Collective lamp-lighting events were held at various levels, including gram panchayat, block, and district gatherings, as well as in temples, where participants also created traditional ‘jhoti’ art designs.

This state-wide effort saw widespread involvement from self-help groups, Subhadra beneficiaries, local residents, and elected officials.