Varanasi: The BJP will launch a six-month nationwide campaign to mark the 650th birth anniversary of Sant Ravidas on Guru Purnima, July 29, by flagging off Kalash Yatras carrying 131 urns filled with soil from the saint’s birthplace in Seer Govardhan, Varanasi, in the presence of chief minister Yogi Adityanath, BJP president Nitin Nabin and state BJP chief Pankaj Chaudhary. The party will also organise Deepotsav at Ravidas temples across the country, culminating in the 650th birth anniversary celebrations on Maghi Purnima on Feb 20, 2027.Finalising arrangements for the programme, UP minister Asim Arun, Rajya Sabha MP Shivesh Kumar and BJP Kashi region president Ashok Chaurasia held a review meeting on Saturday evening. As part of the preparations, UP finance minister Suresh Khanna, along with several MLAs and party office-bearers, also inspected the progress of works being carried out under the Sant Ravidas birthplace development project.Khanna emphasised the timely completion of facilities for devotees, security arrangements, traffic management, drinking water, cleanliness and preparations at the event venue.
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Separate meetings of BJP’s various fronts continued on Saturday to finalise responsibilities for the July 29 events. At a meeting chaired by Asim Arun at the Circuit House, he said that mass lamp-lighting would be organised at Ravidas temples across the country on Guru Purnima. Religious and cultural programmes, including collective aarti, Guruvani recitation, bhajan sandhya and the Samrasta Sankalp, would also be held.He said Mati Pujan (worship of the soil) would be held on Monday, followed by Kalash Pujan and a shobhayatra on Tuesday. On July 29, the Samrasta Sankalp Sabha and Deepotsav would be organised at Seer Govardhan. He directed that all arrangements be completed in a time-bound and well-planned manner.MP Shivesh Kumar said Sant Ravidas symbolised social harmony and equality, and coordinated efforts were needed to spread his message on a wider scale.The BJP Kashi region president said a target of 25,000 participants had been set for the Samrasta Sankalp Sabha. Party workers have been assigned responsibilities for Mati Pujan, the Kalash Yatra, the public meeting and the Deepotsav.
