Indiaupdated 1h ago2 min read
Archive photo · 20 February 2026Narendra Modi Interacts With 3D Hologram Of Swami Chinmayananda At Bharat Mandapam
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Modi interacted with an AI hologram of Swami Chinmayananda at Bharat Mandapam. Hologram depicted Chinmayananda, who died in 1993, as Modi sought blessings.
Hologram Blessing at Bharat Mandapam
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Chinmaya Amrit Mahotsav Global Sammelan in New Delhi at Bharat Mandapam, and he interacted with a 3D hologram of Swami Chinmayananda. Modi told the hologram figure, “It has been my great fortune to meet you, and today I ask you to bless me in the efforts I aspire to undertake.” Modi said he first met Swami Chinmayananda in February or March 1993, asked him to participate in the centennial celebrations of the World Parliament of Religions in Chicago, and said the spiritual leader died on August 3, 1993.
Modi recalled that he attended the Chicago event on September 11, 1993, and felt Chinmayananda’s absence. The event was held between October 23 and 25, 2026, and it marked 75 years since the founding of the Chinmaya mission.
Support, Criticism, and Viral Debate
The hologram interaction prompted divided reactions online, with supporters describing the technology as a way to revive memories of historical and religious figures. Some critics argued the scene exceeded a technological display and used religious symbols in political discourse, especially as Modi asked for the spiritual leader’s blessing for his future endeavors. Modi described the moment as “another kind of spiritual experience,” and he said, “This is a blessing from our saints for me.”
Netizens compared the moment to other countries’ AI efforts, including a user writing, “This country is doomed.” Social media criticism alleged the interaction was a misuse of AI, alongside posts that mocked the concept of an “AI godman.”
What Comes Next for Chinmaya
The Chinmaya Amrit Mahotsav Global Sammelan was framed as the culmination of year-long celebrations marking 75 years since the founding of the Chinmaya mission by Swami Chinmayananda in 1951. The conference aimed to spread the teachings of Vedanta and the Bhagavad Gita and make them available to all. The Tribune said Modi told the gathering that his conversation with Swami Chinmayananda centered on “harnessing the potential of young people to build a strong and capable India,” and it quoted him saying, “Gurudev’s blessings have been with me throughout this journey.”
Times Now described the holographic avatar as a Holobot that recreated the presence of the spiritual leader who passed away in San Diego on August 3, 1993. Times Now also said the interaction took place at Bharat Mandapam during the Chinmaya Amrit Mahotsav Global Sammelan, a 3-day gathering celebrating the organisation’s legacy.