2 weeks ago
Heritage autorickshaws, reels spotlight Modi's hometown ahead of birthday
In India, there is a very old town called Vadnagar that is more than 2,000 years old.
It is famous because the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, was born there and went to school there.
His birthday is coming up on September 17, and the town is getting ready to celebrate.
The government has started a special festival there called Shravanotsav.
Some auto-rickshaws in the town have been painted with pretty designs to show off the town's history.
A train that used to stop only in nearby cities now also stops in Vadnagar.
People can join a contest by making short videos about the town.
There will also be music, meditation and light shows at a lake on Sunday evenings.
Archaeologists dug in the town and found a very old Buddhist monastery, stupas and old walls.
All these activities are meant to help people learn about and visit this special place.
The first Vadnagar Shravanotsav 2026 launched on August 13 to celebrate the town's spiritual, cultural and historical heritage and promote tourism, a month before PM Modi's 76th birthday on September 17.
More than 300 autorickshaws are targeted for heritage-themed retrofitting at over Rs 50,000 each under the Vadnagar Heritage Auto Project; 21 were completed in the first phase, though one driver said 40 vehicles were refurbished.
The Ahmedabad-Bandra Lok Shakti Express was extended to Vadnagar from August 13 and renamed the Vadnagar Lok Shakti Express.
A reel contest on the theme 'Vadnagar: Virasat Bhi, Vikas Bhi' closes on September 11 and had received 43 entries under review.
Excavations spanning from before the 2nd century BCE to the 18th-19th century Gaekwad period revealed a Buddhist monastery, stupas, fortifications and industrial hearths in the nearly 2,500-year-old town.
- Who
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi's hometown of Vadnagar, with the Gujarat government led by Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi overseeing the initiatives.
- What
- Launch of the first Vadnagar Shravanotsav 2026 heritage festival, heritage-themed autorickshaw refurbishment, a reel contest, and the extension of the Lok Shakti Express to Vadnagar.
- Where
- Vadnagar, Gujarat, India.
- When
- From August 13, 2026, a month before Prime Minister Modi's 76th birthday on September 17; the reel contest closes September 11.
- Why
- To showcase Vadnagar's spiritual, cultural and historical heritage, promote it as a tourist destination, and reconnect natives with the town during the Shravan month ahead of Modi's birthday.
Key facts
- Town age
- Nearly 2,500 years old
- PM Modi's birthday
- September 17 (76th birthday)
- Shravanotsav launch
- August 13, 2026
- Reel contest
- 'Vadnagar: Virasat Bhi, Vikas Bhi'; closes September 11; 43 entries received
- Autorickshaw retrofitting
- 300+ targeted; Rs 50,000+ per vehicle; 21 completed in first phase
- Train change
- Ahmedabad-Bandra Lok Shakti Express extended to Vadnagar, renamed Vadnagar Lok Shakti Express
- Chant competition
- Mahamrityunjay chant competition among Sanskrit schools; 4,000+ students expected
- Lake events
- Sunday evenings from August 16 to September 6 at Sharmishtha Lake
Quotes
Narendrakumar Ramanlal Chauhan
28th-generation auto-rickshaw driver, Vadnagar
““Traditionally, natives of Vadnagar return to the town during Shravan month to pray at the Hatkeshwar Mahadev Temple. This month plays an important role in bringing them back to their roots wherever they are. Through different activities, we have tried to reconnect people with the heritage and cultural importance of Vadnagar.””
indianexpress.com
““Every passerby is curious to see the autorickshaw and gets compelled to pause and take a selfie with it.””
indianexpress.com
Sources
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