Birthday Spending Controversy
Nationwide Celebrations for Modi's Birthday Spark Debate Over Public Spending
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In Kanpur, the Motijheel event will include a drone show beginning at 8 p.m., with formations displayed in the sky, as well as selfie points for visitors. A separate “Seva Jyoti” lamp at the local MP’s residence is planned to burn for a month.
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Gujarat’s statewide programme is scheduled to cover more than 18,500 locations, with events beginning at 6 p.m. with bhajan sandhyas and cultural performances before the lamps are lit at 7 p.m.
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At Ahmedabad’s Jagannath Temple, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and Mayor Hitesh Barot are expected to join an evening aarti alongside 1,000 sanitation workers.
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The Gujarat celebrations also include more than 10 lakh lamps planned across over 10,800 locations in Surat and a separate 50,000-lamp “Aashirwad Ka Diya” programme announced by the BJP’s OBC Morcha in Jammu and Kashmir.
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The RJD said approximately 64 lakh people in Bihar were affected by flooding when the lamp-lighting plans were announced, intensifying its criticism of the proposed spending on the birthday celebrations.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 76th birthday will see millions of earthen lamps lit across India as part of the BJP's "Aashirwad Ka Diya" campaign. The Week reports that organizers plan to illuminate the Red Fort with 76 diyas and hold similar events at more than 500 locations nationwide, including 76,000 lamps in Kanpur and over 88 lakh lamps across Gujarat.
The celebrations will feature cultural programs, health camps, blood-donation drives and drone shows. But opposition leaders have criticized the spending as wasteful, arguing the funds should help flood victims and unemployed residents instead.
Kanpur and Gujarat Lead Nationwide Lamp Lighting
Kanpur's Motijheel event will showcase a drone show at 8 p.m. with aerial formations and selfie points for visitors. A separate "Seva Jyoti" lamp at the local MP's residence will burn for a month. One India notes that thousands of diyas were lit across several Indian cities as part of the celebration marking Modi's birthday and 25 years in public life.
Gujarat's statewide programme spans more than 18,500 locations. Events begin at 6 p.m. with bhajan sandhyas and cultural performances, followed by lamp lighting at 7 p.m. Surat alone plans over 10 lakh lamps across 10,800 locations.
Senior Leaders Join Temple Celebrations in Ahmedabad
Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and Mayor Hitesh Barot will join an evening aarti at Ahmedabad's Jagannath Temple alongside 1,000 sanitation workers. Major displays are also planned at Kankaria Lakefront and Atal Bridge as part of Gujarat's coordinated celebrations.
The BJP's OBC Morcha announced a separate 50,000-lamp "Aashirwad Ka Diya" programme in Jammu and Kashmir. Blood-donation drives and free medical camps will run alongside cultural events across all celebration sites.
Opposition Slams Birthday Spending Amid Flooding Crisis
Opposition leader Tejashwi Yadav and the Rashtriya Janata Dal criticized Bihar's reported Rs 100 crore allocation for celebrations. They argue the funds should support affected communities instead. The RJD pointed out that approximately 64 lakh people in Bihar faced flooding when the lamp-lighting plans were announced.
Bihar's government instructed schools and offices to light lamps as part of the celebrations. Critics say the spending is wasteful when millions struggle with unemployment and inflation. The opposition says this money could directly help flood victims and economically vulnerable residents.
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