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- During the meeting, discussions also touched on preparations for the 650th birth anniversary of Guru Ravidas in 2027, including potential nationwide events, developments at the Guru Ravidas temple in Varanasi (Kashi), and other community requests such as naming Adampur airport after the saint.
- Punjab BJP leaders have described the PM’s participation as a reflection of his respect for all communities and spiritual traditions, similar to his recent engagements at events honoring Sikh Gurus and during the Mahakumbh.
- Union Minister of State Ravneet Singh Bittu confirmed the visit, stating that the Prime Minister would arrive at the Dera around 4 PM on February 1, following his participation in the Union Budget session in Parliament earlier that day.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit Dera Sachkhand Ballan near Jalandhar, Punjab, on February 1, coinciding with the 649th birth anniversary of Sant Guru Ravidas, popularly known as Guru Ravidas Jayanti. The visit marks a significant outreach to the Ravidassia and Dalit communities in Punjab, where Scheduled Castes constitute a substantial portion of the population.
The announcement comes shortly after Sant Niranjan Dass, the head of Dera Sachkhand Ballan, was conferred the Padma Shri award—one of India’s highest civilian honors—on the eve of Republic Day 2026. The recognition acknowledges his decades-long contributions to spreading the egalitarian teachings of Guru Ravidas, both nationally and internationally.
In December 2025, Sant Niranjan Dass, accompanied by senior leaders from Punjab, met Prime Minister Modi in New Delhi to extend a formal invitation for the Jayanti celebrations. During the meeting, discussions also touched on preparations for the 650th birth anniversary of Guru Ravidas in 2027, including potential nationwide events, developments at the Guru Ravidas temple in Varanasi (Kashi), and other community requests such as naming Adampur airport after the saint.
Union Minister of State Ravneet Singh Bittu confirmed the visit, stating that the Prime Minister would arrive at the Dera around 4 PM on February 1, following his participation in the Union Budget session in Parliament earlier that day. Traditionally, PM Modi visits Seer Govardhan in Varanasi—Guru Ravidas’s birthplace and part of his parliamentary constituency—for the Jayanti. This year’s shift to Punjab’s Dera Sachkhand Ballan is being viewed as a deliberate gesture of engagement with the Ravidassia community in the state.
Dera Sachkhand Ballan, located in Ballan village about 8 km from Jalandhar, holds immense spiritual and social importance for followers of the Ravidassia faith, many of whom are from Dalit backgrounds. The site attracts devotees from across Punjab and beyond, and it has historically drawn political leaders from various parties during election periods due to its influence over a key demographic—Dalits make up around 32-34% of Punjab’s population.
The visit carries notable political undertones, especially with Punjab’s Assembly elections approaching in roughly a year. Analysts see it as part of the BJP’s broader strategy to strengthen ties with Dalit and backward communities in the state. Punjab BJP leaders have described the PM’s participation as a reflection of his respect for all communities and spiritual traditions, similar to his recent engagements at events honoring Sikh Gurus and during the Mahakumbh.
The Ravidassia community observes Guru Ravidas Jayanti with devotion, including processions, recitations of the saint’s hymns, and pilgrimages. Every year, Sant Niranjan Dass flags off a special train carrying thousands of devotees from Jalandhar to Varanasi for the celebrations; this year’s departure is set for January 29.
As preparations intensify at the Dera, the event is expected to draw large crowds and heightened security.
