The Chinmaya Amrit Mahotsav Global Sammelan opened in New Delhi’s Bharat Mandapam on Friday, drawing 9,000 participants from 30 countries. Prime Minister Narendra Modi took the stage, greeted the assembly, and introduced the holographic representation of Swami Chinmayananda. The avatar, projected in high‑resolution, interacted with Modi through voice‑activated commands, marking the first time a national leader engaged with a spiritual figure via artificial intelligence.
Modi recalled his 1993 meeting with the late saint, saying, 'I felt I had returned to that moment when I first met him in Chicago.' He asked the hologram for blessings for his upcoming initiatives, citing the spiritual leader’s earlier emphasis on youth empowerment. Modi described the encounter as 'a unique spiritual experience that made me feel the presence of the saint as if he were there beside me.'
The holographic avatar replied, 'India is with you, Narendra,' according to a transcript released by the Chinmaya Mission. The voice, synthesized from archival recordings, conveyed the saint’s approval of Modi’s focus on digitizing cultural heritage. The exchange was captured live on the event’s official YouTube channel, attracting over 200,000 views within 24 hours.
Founded in 1951 by Swami Chinmayananda, the mission celebrated its 75th anniversary this year. Over the past decade it has expanded programs in spiritual education, youth outreach, and community service, including the 40,000‑kilometre Chinmaya Amrit Yatra by 15 young members last year. The 2026 summit will culminate in a digital Gita study initiative, announced by the mission’s chief coordinator, Ms. Ritu Sharma.
An attendee, 28‑year‑old student Arun Kumar, said the hologram made him feel the saint’s presence in a way he had never imagined. He added that the technology could help spread Vedanta teachings to remote villages. The government plans to roll out the digital Gita program across rural schools starting January 2027.