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Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi turned 66 Saturday, celebrating the day by visiting his 97-year-old mother Heeraben Modi in his home state of Gujarat.
Modi sought his mother's blessings by touching her feet and eating a sweetmeat offer by her.
"A mother's love and blessings are the elixir of life," he later tweeted, along with photos.
Later in the day, the prime minister attended two programs in the western state and interacted with tribals and disabled people, apart from meeting several ruling Bharatiya Janata Party leaders.
Indian President Pranab Mukherjee also wished Modi. "Let this day be the beginning of a year of greater achievements in life of PM @narendramodi and our nation," he tweeted.
The President added, "May the Almighty bless PM @narendramodi with good health, happiness & many more years of dedicated service to the nation."
India's main opposition Congress party's second-in-command Rahul Gandhi also wished him. "Best wishes to the Prime Minister Narendra Modiji on his birthday."
Modi, who became prime minister in 2014, was born on September 17, 1950 to a family of grocers. As a child, he helped his father sell tea at a railway station, and later ran his own tea stall.
But that did not deter him from continuing his education and he went on to complete his post graduation. A keen debater, Modi joined Rashtriya Swamsevak Sangh at an early age.
He later joined the BJP from Rashtriya Swamsevak Sangh, the party's ideological mentor. And there was no turning back.
(APD)
