Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 76th birthday was marked by a large-scale lamp-lighting programme across Madhya Pradesh on September 17. Thousands of volunteers, devotees and local residents took part in the event, with diyas being lit simultaneously at hundreds of locations across the state. The central attraction of the celebration was Ujjain, where the banks of the Shipra River and the Mahakal Mahalok area were illuminated with 33.27 lakh earthen lamps. The programme was organised under the ‘Ashirwad Ka Diya’ initiative and was linked to the launch of the month-long Seva Sankalp Abhiyan. Across Madhya Pradesh, around 3.55 crore diyas were reportedly lit simultaneously at 845 iconic locations. In Ujjain, the mass lighting was carried out at several important ghats along the Shipra River and around Mahakal Mahalok.

Ujjain Becomes Centre Of Grand Deepotsav

Ujjain witnessed the biggest single concentration of lamps during the statewide programme. A total of 33.27 lakh diyas were arranged across the Shipra riverfront and Mahakal Mahalok. The lighting ceremony was scheduled for 7 pm. When the signal was given, volunteers and participants began lighting the lamps together. Reports said that the lamps across the designated locations were illuminated within around three minutes, creating a continuous display of light along the riverfront. More than 25,000 volunteers, along with devotees and local citizens, participated in the Ujjain programme. The large-scale participation transformed the city's major religious and cultural locations into illuminated spaces. 

CM Mohan Yadav Joins Diya Lighting At Ram Ghat

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav participated in the main programme at Ram Ghat along with BJP national president Nitin Nabin, state BJP president Hemant Khandelwal and state in-charge Mahendra Singh. The leaders joined residents and volunteers in lighting the lamps along the Shipra River. They also participated in the Shipra Aarti and offered prayers for the welfare and prosperity of the people of Madhya Pradesh. The presence of senior leaders and thousands of residents made the Ram Ghat ceremony one of the major highlights of the evening. The ‘Ashirwad Ka Diya’ programme was presented as a symbolic initiative connected with service and public participation. It also marked the beginning of the Seva Sankalp Abhiyan in the state.

3.55 Crore Diyas Lit Across Madhya Pradesh

The celebration was not limited to Ujjain. The lamp-lighting programme was organised across all districts of Madhya Pradesh, covering 845 identified iconic locations. According to state officials and reports, approximately 3.55 crore diyas were lit simultaneously across the state. The initiative brought together religious sites, river ghats, public places and other important locations for the statewide celebration. The scale of the programme made it one of the largest coordinated diya-lighting events held in the state. Volunteers were involved in arranging and lighting the lamps at different locations, with the main ceremony timed for the evening. Ujjain remained the focal point because of the 33.27 lakh lamps lit around the Shipra riverfront and Mahakal Mahalok.

‘Ashirwad Ka Diya’ Programme

The ‘Ashirwad Ka Diya’ initiative formed the centrepiece of the birthday celebrations in Madhya Pradesh. The programme was linked with the launch of the Seva Sankalp Abhiyan, a month-long initiative involving public participation and service-related activities. In Ujjain, the lighting was organised at multiple ghats and the Mahakal Mahalok complex. The coordinated effort required thousands of volunteers to place the lamps in designated areas before the scheduled lighting time. At 7 pm, a siren signalled the beginning of the simultaneous lighting. Within a short period, the riverfront and surrounding areas were illuminated by thousands of rows of diyas.

Shipra Riverfront Turns Into A Sea Of Lights

The Shipra riverfront presented a striking visual scene as the lamps were illuminated together. Ram Ghat, one of Ujjain’s most prominent religious locations, became a major gathering point for the event. Other ghats along the river were also covered with rows of diyas. The illumination extended towards Mahakal Mahalok, creating a continuous festive atmosphere across several important parts of the city. The event also featured a lamp-based image of Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Kartik Mela ground, according to reports.

Ujjain World Record Claim

The organisers and state authorities described the simultaneous lighting of 33.27 lakh diyas in Ujjain as a world record. Several reports have carried the achievement as a record-setting event. However, available reporting also notes that an independently updated Guinness World Records entry confirming the Ujjain event was not publicly visible at the time of reporting. Therefore, the record is best described as a claim by the organisers or state authorities rather than an independently confirmed Guinness title. The reported figure is nevertheless significant in scale, with 33.27 lakh lamps illuminated across the Shipra riverfront and Mahakal Mahalok during the ceremony.

More Than 25,000 Volunteers Participate

The Ujjain programme depended heavily on the participation of volunteers. More than 25,000 volunteers, along with devotees and local residents, took part in the lamp-lighting event, according to reports. Before the scheduled ceremony, the diyas were placed across the designated locations. Volunteers then waited for the 7 pm signal before lighting them together. The coordinated timing was an important part of the event because the organisers wanted the lamps across the different locations to be illuminated simultaneously.

Seva Sankalp Abhiyan Begins

The lamp-lighting programme also marked the beginning of the Seva Sankalp Abhiyan in Madhya Pradesh. The campaign is planned as a month-long initiative involving public participation and service-oriented activities. The ‘Ashirwad Ka Diya’ event was used as the opening programme for the campaign. The statewide participation meant that the celebration extended beyond Ujjain to numerous districts and important locations across Madhya Pradesh.

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How many diyas were lit in Madhya Pradesh?

According to state officials, around 3.55 crore diyas were lit simultaneously across Madhya Pradesh at 845 iconic locations.

How many diyas were lit in Ujjain?

A total of 33.27 lakh diyas were reportedly lit simultaneously across the Shipra riverfront and Mahakal Mahalok in Ujjain.

Where was the main Deepotsav held?

The main programme was held in Ujjain, particularly along the Shipra River ghats and at Mahakal Mahalok.

Who participated in the Ujjain ceremony?

Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, BJP national president Nitin Nabin, state BJP president Hemant Khandelwal and state in-charge Mahendra Singh participated in the lamp-lighting at Ram Ghat along with residents and volunteers.