PM Modi to Visit Dera Ballan on Feb 1 for Ravidas Jayanti

January 27, 2026

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit Dera Sachkhand Ballan in Jalandhar, Punjab on February 1, 2026, to take part in celebrations marking the 649th Guru Ravidass Jayanti, media reports confirmed on Tuesday. The plan was announced by Union Minister of State Ravneet Bittu amid political attention over the move.

 Significance of the Visit

Guru Ravidass Jayanti commemorates the birth anniversary of Guru Ravidas, a revered saint and icon among the Ravidassia and Dalit communities. Normally, the Prime Minister visits Seer Govardhan regarded as Guru Ravidas’s birthplace in Varanasi, which also falls in his parliamentary constituency. However, this year’s decision to visit Dera Ballan is seen as significant given the high presence of the saint’s followers in Punjab.

Dera Ballan is one of the most revered centers for the Ravidassia community and plays an important cultural and social role, particularly among Dalits in the Doaba region of Punjab, where the community forms a large vote bank.

 Strategic and Community Context

Political analysts suggest that the visit could have broader resonance, especially in the context of the upcoming Punjab Assembly elections, where the Dalit electorate estimated at around 30-32% of the state’s population represents a significant influence. Engaging with the community on a major religious occasion is interpreted as a way to reinforce cultural bonds.

Last year, Prime Minister Modi conferred the Padma Shri award on Sant Niranjan Dass, the head of Dera Sachkhand Ballan, recognising his decades-long spiritual leadership rooted in the teachings of Guru Ravidas.

 What Is Guru Ravidass Jayanti?

Guru Ravidass Jayanti celebrates the birth of the 15th-century saint Guru Ravidas, who preached equality, spiritual liberation, and social justice. The festival draws large numbers of devotees from across India and abroad, with devotees taking part in processions, prayers and kirtans at temples and dera institutions.

 Preparations and Expectations

Preparations are underway at Dera Ballan ahead of the Prime Minister’s visit, with local committees and volunteers coordinating logistics. Devotees are expected to gather in large numbers to participate in the festivities and receive blessings, reflecting the spiritual importance of the day for many in the region.

Officials and organisers are also expected to ensure that security and arrangements are in place for the smooth conduct of the event.