The ‘Seva Sankalp Abhiyan’ bike yatra was launched from Varanasi by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath, marking PM Modi’s 76th birthday.
The campaign connects Kashi with Vadnagar in Gujarat, covering 10 states, 193 districts and 1,159 villages over roughly a month.
Around 500 bikers on 250 motorcycles are riding in each direction, with one convoy carrying Gangajal to Vadnagar and another bringing water from Gujarat back to Kashi.
The yatra concludes on October 7 with rituals at Baba Hatkeshwar temple in Vadnagar and a Jalabhishek at Kashi’s Baba Vishwanath temple.
Rajnath Singh described the campaign as ‘a confluence yatra of service, values and sadhana,’ crediting the Modi government with several national achievements.
Rajnath Singh credited the Modi government with several major national changes during the launch, including action against Naxalism and the removal of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir.
The Defence Minister also cited poverty reduction affecting crores of people, greater women’s participation in Parliament, and the promotion of the semiconductor industry among the government’s achievements.
The Seva Sankalp Abhiyan follows a template used in past years, including a similar ‘Seva Sankalp’ walk led by Delhi CM Rekha Gupta on PM Modi’s 75th birthday.
The campaign’s stated objective is to connect with public sentiment and reach citizens through local service activities across the covered districts and villages.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath joined Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in flagging off the bike yatra from Kashi.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and Union Minister Chirag Paswan were also present at the launch event in Varanasi.
One convoy of bikers is carrying Gangajal from Kashi toward Vadnagar, while a second convoy is bringing water from Gujarat’s holy rivers back to Kashi.
The campaign will conclude on October 7 with a water-offering ceremony at Baba Hatkeshwar temple in Vadnagar and a Jalabhishek ritual at Baba Vishwanath temple in Kashi.
Dashashwamedh Ghat, Varanasi (representative image), Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
