Prime Minister Narendra Modi turned 76 on Thursday, September 17, 2026, with the occasion being marked by a series of programmes organised by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), its state units, supporters, community organisations and some state and local governments. Rather than being an official national celebration or public holiday, the events are largely centred on public-service activities, welfare outreach, religious programmes and political-organisational campaigns.

A major focus of this year’s programmes is the BJP's “Seva Sankalp Abhiyan”, a month-long campaign beginning on September 17. The campaign also coincides with another political milestone: October 7, 2026 will mark 25 years since Narendra Modi first became Chief Minister of Gujarat in 2001. The campaign is scheduled to include blood donation camps, cleanliness drives, tree plantation, health initiatives, volunteering and programmes aimed at connecting people with government welfare schemes.

Blood Donation and Health Camps

Blood donation has emerged as one of the prominent activities associated with the birthday programmes. The BJP has designated September 17 as a day of service activities, with donation camps planned in different parts of the country. The Indian Red Cross Society's published schedule, for example, lists a BJP-organised blood donation camp at Delhi's Thyagaraj Stadium on September 17.

The Delhi government has also announced a month-long Seva Sankalp Abhiyan. According to DD News, activities include blood donation, health camps for senior citizens, worker registration, cleanliness drives and plantation programmes. The campaign was announced with a target of collecting about 2,500 units of blood on its opening day and conducting health check-ups for thousands of senior citizens.

‘Aashirwad Ka Diya’ Campaign

Another feature of this year's programmes is the “Aashirwad Ka Diya” initiative. BJP president Nitin Nabin called on supporters to light an earthen lamp on September 17 while wishing the Prime Minister good health and a long life. Similar diya-lighting programmes have been organised in different locations.

Gujarat, Modi's home state, has witnessed some of the most visible birthday-related events. In Ahmedabad, community organisation Vishva Umiyadham organised a programme involving the lighting of 76,000 diyas, along with a Maha Aarti and a collective rendition of Vande Mataram. The number 76 was chosen to correspond with Modi's age.

Other Gujarat initiatives have mixed symbolic celebrations with community programmes. The Vishwa Gujarati Samaj announced the distribution of 76,000 saplings for kitchen gardens, while a gaushala initiative involved donating 76 Gir cows to 76 women from economically weaker backgrounds, with organisers saying the initiative was intended to support livelihoods and self-reliance.

Vadnagar–Varanasi Bike Yatras

One of the larger political programmes associated with the birthday is a pair of motorcycle rallies connecting Vadnagar in Gujarat, where Modi was born, and Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh, the parliamentary constituency he represents in the Lok Sabha.

The BJP has described the initiative as a connection between Modi's birthplace and his parliamentary constituency. Union Home Minister Amit Shah was scheduled to flag off the Vadnagar-to-Varanasi section, while Defence Minister Rajnath Singh was associated with the Varanasi-to-Vadnagar leg. The journeys are part of the wider Seva Sankalp campaign and are scheduled to continue until around October 7.

Varanasi is also hosting a range of programmes linked to the occasion. Reports from the city describe blood donation activities, special prayers, youth programmes and other service-oriented events.

Cleanliness, Plantation and Volunteering

Beyond the larger rallies and ceremonial events, the BJP's campaign is encouraging supporters and volunteers to participate in local community work. Under an initiative called “Seva Mera Yogdan,” people are being encouraged to contribute time to various types of service, including cleanliness work, environmental activities, blood donation and volunteering.

Tree plantation and environmental programmes are also taking place in several areas. These activities follow the broader theme promoted by organisers: marking the birthday through service rather than limiting observances to conventional celebrations.

Political Leaders Send Birthday Greetings

President Droupadi Murmu, Union ministers, chief ministers and political leaders have also publicly extended birthday greetings to Prime Minister Modi. Reports also noted greetings from leaders outside the BJP, including Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi.

Narendra Modi was born on September 17, 1950, in Vadnagar, Gujarat. He served as Chief Minister of Gujarat from 2001 before becoming Prime Minister of India in 2014.

A Birthday Centred on a Month-Long Political and Service Campaign

The 2026 observances therefore extend well beyond September 17. For the BJP, the birthday serves as the opening day of a larger campaign combining service activities, welfare outreach and programmes highlighting Modi's years in elected office. The campaign is expected to continue for approximately a month, with October 7 serving as another significant date because it marks 25 years since Modi became Gujarat Chief Minister.

Across different states, the form of the observances varies—from blood donation and health camps to cleanliness drives, tree plantation, diyas, prayers and motorcycle rallies. Taken together, they show how the BJP, allied organisations, supporters and participating governments are marking Narendra Modi's 76th birthday through a combination of public-service programmes, political outreach and ceremonial events.