The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is set to organize a special hawan and puja at its national headquarters in New Delhi on Sunday, November 8, to commemorate the 99th birthday of veteran leader and former Deputy Prime Minister Lal Krishna Advani. The event will feature prayers for his continued good health and long life, alongside a presentation detailing his extensive life and political career.
Born on November 8, 1927, Advani will officially enter his 100th year on this significant birthday. BJP national president Nitin Nabin and Union Minister Piyush Goyal are expected to address the gathering. Advani's daughter, Pratibha Advani, is also anticipated to be present. The program will conclude with the distribution of prasad following the religious ceremony and presentations acknowledging his profound contributions to Indian politics and the BJP's growth.
Recent Health Updates for L.K. Advani
These birthday celebrations follow a period of health-related concerns for the 98-year-old leader. Advani was discharged from Apollo Hospitals in New Delhi on October 19, having received treatment for a chest infection. Prior to this, he had also been admitted to the hospital in May for age-related ailments. In 2024, he experienced several hospitalizations at both Apollo Hospitals and the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), including an admission in December that required intensive care, from which he was discharged on December 25, 2024.
Earlier, on October 7, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Advani at his Delhi residence to seek his blessings after completing 25 years as head of government. Following their meeting, PM Modi publicly acknowledged Advani’s decades of dedicated public service and remarked that his contributions had left an indelible mark on the nation's life.
L.K. Advani's Enduring Political Legacy
As one of the most prominent figures in the BJP’s history, L.K. Advani played a pivotal role in expanding the party’s organizational base and shaping its political direction over many decades. Born in Karachi, in what is now Pakistan, Advani migrated to India during the Partition in 1947. His political journey began in 1951 when he joined the Bharatiya Jana Sangh, the ideological predecessor of the BJP.
Advani subsequently emerged as a key leader, serving as the BJP's president three times. He was also a leading voice in the Ram Janmabhoomi movement, a campaign instrumental in the party's significant political expansion. During the Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led government, Advani held the crucial portfolio of Union Home Minister and later served as Deputy Prime Minister from 2002 to 2004. His distinguished political career also included multiple terms in Parliament.
In recognition of his immense contributions to public life and national service, Advani was awarded the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian honor, in March 2024. President Droupadi Murmu presented the prestigious award at his residence, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other senior leaders in attendance.