No banquet halls. No political rallies.
Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha chose the quiet stone floors of a gurdwara to mark his 38th birthday on Wednesday, spending the morning in hands-on community service. He bowed before the Sri Guru Granth Sahib, received a ceremonial siropa from shrine administrators, and stood for prayers at the Nishan Sahib before joining the ranks of daily volunteers.
Then he went straight to work.
Chadha stepped into the community kitchen to roll rotis alongside women sewadars, carried buckets to serve langar across rows of seated devotees, and took a station at the joota ghar to manage footwear alongside elderly caretakers. Between tasks, he sat on the carpeted corridors to speak with visiting families and children.
Reflecting on the morning, Chadha described the temple chores as grounding:
Sewa at the Guru's house brings a peace that nothing else can. When I serve the sangat with my own hands, I feel closest to the divine.
He noted that a single word—shukrana, or gratitude—anchored his thoughts, framing his life as an unearned blessing shaped by divine grace before offering prayers for "Chardi Kala", the Sikh ethos of resolute optimism and enduring strength.
Off the prayer mats, the celebration turned personal. His wife, actress Parineeti Chopra, celebrated the 38-year-old lawmaker with glimpses from their recent date nights, recounting competitive tabletop games and life away from public cameras.
"The most inspiring man I know. The best father there can be," Chopra wrote, sharing their private ritual. "They just don't make them like you anymore."