Samrasta Sankalp Abhiyan
Why in News?
The Samrasta Sankalp Abhiyan is in the news because the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has launched this nationwide campaign from 29 July 2026 (Guru Purnima) to commemorate the 650th birth anniversary year of Sant Guru Ravidas Maharaj.
Key Information about the Campaign
- Core Objective: To promote Guru Ravidas’s timeless message of equality, social justice, humanity, and social harmony across India.
- Timeline: The national campaign spans nearly seven months, starting on 29 July 2026 and concluding on 20 February 2027 (Guru Ravidas Jayanti / Magha Purnima).
- Inauguration & Soil Collection: Launched at the saint's birthplace, Seer Govardhanpur in Varanasi, the campaign began with a "Mati Pujan" where sacred soil was filled into 131 urns (Kalash).
- Kalash Vandan Abhiyan: Out of the 131 sacred urns, 104 will be distributed across various organizational units, and 27 will travel to different states to conduct prayers at 21,000 locations.
- Samrasta Deepotsav: A massive lamp-lighting ceremony was held at 51,000 temples and religious sites nationwide, including 11,000 lamps lit on the Ganga Ghats in Varanasi.
- Samrasta Yatra: A month-long foot march is scheduled from 5 October to 5 November 2026, tracing a route from Jalandhar (Punjab) to Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh).
- Sant Sampark & Dialogue: Running through August 2026, party workers will visit spiritual leaders of the Ravidasia community, followed by "Samrasta Samvaad" sessions in student hostels to engage youth with teachings of equality.
- Infrastructure Upgrades: Alongside the public yatra, the central government announced a dedicated push to fully develop and upgrade key heritage sites and temples associated with Guru Ravidas, including locations in Junagadh, Sagar, Chittorgarh, and Khuralgarh Sahib.
