Bhubaneswar: To commemorate the 76th birthday of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, nearly one crore diyas were lit throughout Odisha on Thursday evening. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, along with others, took part in the ‘Ashirwad Ka Diya’ event at the Mukteswar Temple in the city.

Events similar to this were held across all 30 districts in Odisha to celebrate Modi’s special day.

Among the attendees at the temple were Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida and Minister Suresh Pujari.

According to the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), the initiative saw participation from families statewide, who lit lamps in their homes, contributing to the collective effort.

In addition to local residents, members of self-help groups and beneficiaries of the Subhadra Yojana also engaged in the celebrations.

Majhi prayed before Lord Mukteswar, offering the ‘Ashirwad Ka Diya’ and wishing for Modi’s long life and continued success as part of the ‘Seva Sankalp Abhiyan’.

On social media platform X, Majhi expressed, “The lamp represents our affection and respect for the Honourable Prime Minister’s 25 years of dedicated and unparalleled public service, as well as his significant contributions to nation-building.”

He praised Modi’s leadership, stating that it had sparked a renewed sense of patriotism and commitment to service among Indians.

Majhi remarked, “This flame of blessings and gratitude will motivate us to illuminate our society with service, goodwill, hope, and progress, as we strive towards a ‘Prosperous Odisha’ and a ‘Developed India.'”

Wishing Modi well on his birthday, the Chief Minister added, “The light of this sacred lamp signifies the blessings from the hearts of Odisha’s 4.5 crore residents for Modi-ji. India is destined to become a ‘Vishwa Guru’ (global leader), and we will persist in our efforts to fulfill Modi-ji’s vision.”

In addition, the BJP’s youth wing organized a large blood donation camp in Bhubaneswar to mark the occasion. Majhi inaugurated the camp in the morning, where a total of 8,810 units of blood were collected from party leaders, workers, and volunteers.

K C Mahapatra, the State Housing and Urban Development Minister and coordinator of the ‘Seva Sankalp Abhiyan’, confirmed that the camp collected 8,810 units of blood throughout the day.