BHUBANESWAR: Odisha launched a month-long ‘Seva Sankalp Abhiyan 2026’ on September 17th, featuring a series of service-oriented activities to commemorate Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 76th birthday. A mega blood donation camp, organised by the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) at the IDCO Exhibition Ground in Unit-III, Bhubaneswar, collected 8,810 units of blood, which organisers claimed set a new world record.
The blood donation drive was a major highlight of the campaign, aiming to promote voluntary service, social responsibility, and public participation. Later that evening, a large-scale ‘Ashirwadara Deepa’ (Lamp of Blessings) program took place at the historic Mukteshwar Temple. Over 11,000 lamps were lit by women and young participants who prayed for the Prime Minister’s long life and well-being. These two programs, combining public service with cultural and spiritual expressions, formed the central features of the birthday observances in the state.
Mega blood donation camp collects 8,810 units
The mega blood donation camp at the IDCO Exhibition Ground saw significant participation from voluntary donors, particularly young people and BJYM members.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, who attended the event, stated that blood donation is among the highest forms of humanitarian service. He emphasised that despite advancements in medical science, human blood has no substitute and cannot be manufactured.
ସେବା ସଂକଳ୍ପ ଅଭିଯାନ ଅବସରରେ ଆଜି ଭୁବନେଶ୍ୱରଠାରେ ଆୟୋଜିତ ରକ୍ତଦାନ ଶିବିରରେ ସାମିଲ ହୋଇ ଯୁବକାର୍ଯ୍ୟକର୍ତ୍ତା ଓ ସ୍ୱେଚ୍ଛାକୃତ ରକ୍ତଦାତାମାନଙ୍କୁ ଉତ୍ସାହିତ କଲି।
ପ୍ରଧାନମନ୍ତ୍ରୀ ନରେନ୍ଦ୍ର ମୋଦୀଜୀଙ୍କ ଜନ୍ମଦିନ ଏବଂ ତାଙ୍କର ୨୫ ବର୍ଷର ନିରବଚ୍ଛିନ୍ନ ଜନସେବା ଓ ରାଷ୍ଟ୍ର ନିର୍ମାଣ ଯାତ୍ରାକୁ ସମ୍ମାନ ଜଣାଇ ଆରମ୍ଭ ହୋଇଥିବା ଏହି… pic.twitter.com/ZVjsvLH83i
— Mohan Charan Majhi (@MohanMOdisha) September 17, 2026
“Donating blood and experiencing the opportunity to save a life reflects our highest human values,” the Chief Minister said, underscoring the importance of voluntary blood donation.
The camp initially aimed to collect over 6,500 units of blood. According to the organisers, the final collection reached 8,810 units, substantially surpassing the target. Organisers declared that this collection represented a new world record for blood donation at a single location, through one camp and one organisation, on a single day. Representatives from the World Book of Records were present and presented a certificate recognising the achievement.
Government expanding blood-safety infrastructure
Highlighting the state government’s efforts to improve blood availability, Chief Minister Majhi affirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring no life is lost prematurely due to a blood shortage. He announced an allocation of Rs 50.54 crore in the Odisha Budget for 2026-27 for the state’s blood-safety initiatives. The government has also launched the ‘Atal Raktadan Abhiyan’, which involves establishing blood banks in new medical colleges and modernising existing ones.
The Chief Minister stated that strengthening blood-storage infrastructure and encouraging voluntary donation are crucial components of ensuring a reliable blood supply across the state.
Rajya Sabha MP and BJP State President Manmohan Samal noted that the large-scale blood donation drive would help address the shortage of blood experienced by blood banks, particularly since the COVID-19 pandemic. He added that the initiative underscores the importance of encouraging people, especially young citizens, to participate in voluntary blood donation and community service.
‘Seva Sankalp’ as a month-long service initiative
Addressing the gathering, Chief Minister Majhi described the month-long Seva Sankalp Abhiyan as more than just an event; it aims to foster a broader culture of public service and social responsibility. He extended birthday greetings to Prime Minister Modi on behalf of the people of Odisha, acknowledging the Prime Minister’s extensive public and political career.
The Chief Minister also highlighted India’s development under Prime Minister Modi’s leadership, citing progress in areas such as defence manufacturing, semiconductor technology, and space technology. He urged Odisha’s youth to dedicate a portion of their daily lives to social and national service. Majhi emphasised that participation in humanitarian and community-oriented activities offers a meaningful way for young people to contribute to society.
BJYM: Blood Donation as a Message of Service
Minister and state coordinator of the Seva Sankalp Abhiyan, Dr Krishna Chandra Mahapatra, announced that the mega blood donation camp had set a new record. He stated that collecting 8,810 units of blood at a single location, through one camp and one organisation in a single day, was an unprecedented achievement, according to the organisers.
Mahapatra described the blood donation drive as a significant offering on the Prime Minister’s birthday and congratulated all voluntary donors who participated.
BJYM state president Abhilash Panda attributed the program’s success to coordinated teamwork and the enthusiastic participation of Odisha’s youth. He thanked blood donors, volunteers, young activists, and other stakeholders for their contributions to the event. Panda also affirmed that the BJYM would continue to promote blood donation, especially for patients requiring regular transfusions, such as those with thalassemia.
‘Ashirwadara Deepa’ illuminates Mukteshwar Temple
The evening featured another major program under the Seva Sankalp Abhiyan at Bhubaneswar’s historic Mukteshwar Temple. As dusk fell, thousands of lamps were lit across the temple premises, creating a traditional and spiritual ambience. More than 11,000 ‘Ashirwadara Deepa’ were illuminated by women and young participants.
‘ସେବା ସଂକଳ୍ପ ଅଭିଯାନ’ ଅବସରରେ ‘ଆଶୀର୍ବାଦର ଦୀପ’ ପ୍ରଜ୍ୱଳନର ସ୍ମରଣୀୟ ମୁହୂର୍ତ୍ତ।
ଦେଶର ପ୍ରଗତି, ନାଗରିକଙ୍କ କଲ୍ୟାଣ ଏବଂ ସଶକ୍ତ ରାଷ୍ଟ୍ର ନିର୍ମାଣ ପାଇଁ ଆଦରଣୀୟ ପ୍ରଧାନମନ୍ତ୍ରୀ ଶ୍ରୀ @narendramodi ଜୀଙ୍କ ଅବିରତ, ସମର୍ପିତ ତଥା ନିସ୍ୱାର୍ଥପର ଜନସେବା ପ୍ରତି ଆମର ଅଶେଷ କୃତଜ୍ଞତା। #AshirwadKaDiya#SevaKe25Varsh… pic.twitter.com/OhXv53eqlZ
— Mohan Charan Majhi (@MohanMOdisha) September 17, 2026
The state government organised the program as part of the Prime Minister’s birthday celebrations. The sounds of temple bells, conch shells, and evening prayers blended with devotional performances by renowned Odia singers. The ancient stone architecture of Mukteshwar Temple provided a majestic backdrop for the ceremony, which combined religious devotion with a public cultural program. Participants prayed for Prime Minister Modi’s long life, good health, and well-being.
Chief Minister Majhi personally joined the lamp-lighting ceremony and interacted with the young participants and women in attendance. Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida, Revenue Minister Suresh Pujari, Ekamra MLA Babu Singh, and Brahmagiri MLA Upasana Mohapatra were among the dignitaries present who participated in lighting the lamps.
Chief Minister calls lamps symbol of Odisha’s blessings
Speaking to the media at the Mukteshwar Temple, Chief Minister Majhi extended his greetings to Prime Minister Modi on his 76th birthday. He described the lamps lit at the temple as symbolic of the blessings of the people of Odisha.
“The sacred flames of these lamps are a symbol of the blessings emerging from the hearts of the people of Odisha,” Majhi said.
‘ସେବା ସଂକଳ୍ପ ଅଭିଯାନ’ ଅବସରରେ ରାଷ୍ଟ୍ରନାୟକ ଆଦରଣୀୟ ପ୍ରଧାନମନ୍ତ୍ରୀ ଶ୍ରୀ @narendramodi ଜୀଙ୍କର ଦୀର୍ଘ ଆୟୁ, ନିରାମୟ ଜୀବନ ଓ ନିରନ୍ତର ସଫଳତା କାମନା କରି ପ୍ରଭୁ ମୁକ୍ତେଶ୍ୱରଙ୍କ ନିକଟରେ ‘ଆଶୀର୍ବାଦର ଦୀପ’ ଅର୍ପଣ କଲି ।
ମାନ୍ୟବର ପ୍ରଧାନମନ୍ତ୍ରୀଙ୍କ ୨୫ ବର୍ଷର ନିରନ୍ତର, ଅତୁଳନୀୟ ତଥା ନିସ୍ୱାର୍ଥପର ଜନସେବା ଏବଂ ରାଷ୍ଟ୍ର… pic.twitter.com/gIqjO5H0fq
— Mohan Charan Majhi (@MohanMOdisha) September 17, 2026
He added that India would continue to work towards becoming a leading global nation and that Odisha would contribute to efforts aimed at realising the vision of a developed India.
The Chief Minister also stated that the state would continue its efforts to contribute to the Prime Minister’s vision for the country’s development.
Spiritual and cultural dimension
The ‘Ashirwadara Deepa’ program also showcased Odisha’s cultural and devotional traditions. The participation of thousands of women and young people gave the program a community character, while devotional music and traditional rituals added a spiritual dimension to the occasion.
The organisers said the lighting of thousands of lamps represented collective prayers and goodwill on the Prime Minister’s birthday. The devotional songs performed by prominent Odia singers further enhanced the atmosphere at the temple, with participants joining the program in a spirit of devotion and celebration.
Service activities across Odisha
The Seva Sankalp Abhiyan is being observed across Odisha through a range of service-oriented activities. The campaign includes programs aimed at encouraging public participation, voluntary service, and social welfare.
According to the organisers, the ‘Ashirwadara Deepa’ initiative was extended across 30 districts of Odisha, with a total of around one crore lamps planned as part of the statewide observance.
The campaign has sought to link the Prime Minister’s birthday celebrations with activities focused on public service rather than conventional celebrations.
The blood donation drive in Bhubaneswar was positioned as one of the major initiatives under this approach, with organizers emphasizing voluntary blood donation as a direct humanitarian contribution.
Leaders highlight public participation
Several ministers, MPs, MLAs, state office-bearers, and party workers participated in the programs held in Bhubaneswar.
Among those present at the blood donation event were Minister Suresh Pujari, Rajya Sabha MP Sujit Kumar, Lok Sabha MP Aparajita Sarangi, MLAs Iraashish Acharya, Babu Singh, Durga Prasanna Nayak, and Prashant Jagdev, besides other state-level office-bearers and workers.
The organisers credited the participation of volunteers and youth with the success of the mega blood donation campaign.
The presentation of the World Book of Records certificate added formal recognition to the event, while the evening lamp-lighting ceremony at Mukteshwar Temple provided a cultural and spiritual conclusion to the day’s programs.
With the blood donation initiative and the statewide lamp-lighting program, Odisha’s observance of the Seva Sankalp Abhiyan combined humanitarian service, youth participation, cultural expression, and public outreach. The organisers said the month-long campaign would continue with further service-oriented activities across the state.
