New Delhi

The BJP on Monday announced a seven-month nationwide campaign to commemorate the 650th birth anniversary of Sant Guru Ravidas, saying it will take his message of social harmony to every village across the country.

Addressing a press conference here, BJP national general secretary Tarun Chugh said the party has decided to observe the anniversary year as 'Sant Shiromani Shri Guru Ravidas Ji Maharaj Samrasta Sankalp Abhiyan', beginning on Guru Purnima on July 29 and continuing till February 20, 2027.

“As part of the 650th birth anniversary celebrations, the first programme will be held on July 28, when 131 ceremonial urns (‘kalash’) containing soil collected from Guru Ravidas ji's birthplace in Varanasi will be worshipped. On July 29, a procession will be taken out following the worship ceremony.

“The sacred soil will then be ceremonially flagged off by BJP president Nitin Nabin, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Uttar Pradesh BJP president Pankaj Choudhary, and other senior party leaders,” he said.

“The nationwide campaign will begin on Guru Purnima and continue till Guru Ravidas' birth anniversary. Through this campaign, Guru Ravidas ji's philosophy of Begampura and social harmony will reach every village and every household,” Chugh said.

A total of 131 urns containing soil from Guru Ravidas' birthplace will travel to 21,000 locations across the country between July 29 and September 10, while 'Deepotsav' programmes will be organised at 51,000 temples on Guru Purnima, Chugh said.

He added that a historic 'Deepmala' will also be organised on the ghats of the Ganga in Varanasi, in the presence of Yogi Adityanath and Nitin Nabin.

“His philosophy of Begampura – a land free from sorrow and anxiety – and his vision of an ideal society will be taken to every village and household. The party will also undertake extensive outreach among religious preachers, storytellers, kirtan singers and bhajan mandalis across the country,” he said.

From July 29 to January 15, BJP workers and leaders across the country will meet seers and religious leaders to spread Guru Ravidas’ teachings, he said.

The BJP will also organise a month-long yatra from Jalandhar to Varanasi from October 5 to November 5.

“Following this, a nationwide yatra will begin from Jalandhar and pass through Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Uttarakhand, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, before concluding at Guru Ravidas ji's birthplace in Varanasi,” he added.

Alleging that “some people, as part of a foreign toolkit, are trying to divide society”, Chugh said Guru Ravidas ji's message is to unite society, awaken it and promote social harmony.

Referring to his teachings, Chugh said, "The soil from the birthplace of Guru Ravidas ji, who raised his voice against religious conversion and spread the message of social harmony during the Bhakti movement, will reach every corner of the country.”

As part of the campaign, the BJP will also organise outreach programmes in hostels, temples and educational institutions, along with special interactions with students.

Chugh said the party will also work with local governments to develop five major temples associated with Guru Ravidas’ life in Junagadh (Gujarat), Sagar (Madhya Pradesh), Chittorgarh (Rajasthan), Khuralgarh Sahib (Punjab) and the Shri Guru Ravidas Temple (Delhi).

BJP national general secretary Dushyant Kumar Gautam said Guru Ravidas was among the great saints who guided society during a difficult period in Indian history.

“When people had no direction, saints like Guru Ravidas, Kabir, Guru Nanak and Tulsidas took knowledge to the masses in regional languages and awakened society,” he said.

Gautam also claimed that Guru Ravidas opposed religious conversion and chose “death over conversion”, adding that he envisioned a casteless society based on equality.

He also referred to Guru Ravidas' vision of Begampura, saying it was a society free from sorrow, discrimination and inequality where people of all backgrounds lived together.

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The BJP leader highlighted the initiatives undertaken by the Narendra Modi government in honour of Guru Ravidas, including naming the Adampur airport in Punjab after him, developing his birthplace in Varanasi and restoring other sites associated with his life.