Bhildi, October 2026 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday recalled his first major public programme in Gujarat after becoming Chief Minister in 2001, saying an event held in Banaskantha district had attracted nearly three lakh people. Addressing a large gathering in Bhildi, organised in the traditional ‘Khatla Sabha’ format, he linked his visit to the completion of 25 years of his public service.
The gathering was distinctive as thousands of people sat on traditional village cots, known as charpoys or khatla, instead of conventional chairs. Appreciating the revival of the rural tradition, Modi said Banaskantha had preserved an important aspect of India's village culture.
"Perhaps the people of the world would be surprised to see that everyone in this gathering is sitting on charpoys. Banaskantha has kept this great tradition of our villages alive today," he said.
The Prime Minister also suggested that the event could have entered the Guinness World Records had the organisers approached the organisation beforehand to document the unusual seating arrangement.
Recalling his early days as Gujarat Chief Minister, Modi said his first major public programme in the state in 2001 was a Lok Kalyan Mela organised in the Banaskantha region. He said the programme had witnessed a participation of approximately three lakh people and expressed confidence that the record had remained unbeaten.
"Where I began my journey, I have got an opportunity today to give an account of 25 years of service," he said, reflecting on his association with Gujarat and his journey in public life.
Modi also noted that his visit to Banaskantha after completing 25 years in public life had coincided with the present programme, making the occasion significant for him.
Beginning his address with greetings to the gathering, the Prime Minister acknowledged the participation of farmers from different parts of the country and villages across Gujarat through technology. He said the programme had connected people beyond the physical gathering in Bhildi.
Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi and Gujarat Assembly Speaker Shankar Chaudhary were among the prominent leaders present at the event, along with other ministers and officials.
The Prime Minister said he had initially intended to address the gathering in Gujarati. However, considering that people from different parts of the country were watching the programme, he decided to continue in Hindi. He sought the audience's permission before switching languages.
During his address, Modi also paid tribute to Maa Amba and described his visit as an opportunity to offer prayers in the sacred land associated with the goddess during the auspicious period of Navratri.
Earlier in the programme, the Prime Minister launched and dedicated several development initiatives concerning women, children, farmers and livestock owners. He also released the latest instalment of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme, aimed at providing financial assistance to eligible farmers.
The event brought together traditional rural practices and government development initiatives, while Modi used the occasion to revisit his early association with Gujarat and reflect on 25 years of his public journey.
