Mann Ki Baat: Kumbh Mela An Example of India’s Faith, Says PM Modi
This is the 51st edition of the PM Modi’s monthly radio programme.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the nation through his radio programme, Mann Ki Baat, on Sunday, 30 December.
“Our festivals are replete with fragrance of the essence of unity in diversity and the spirit of ‘One India Great India’. We can witness how closely our festivals are interlinked with nature,” PM Modi said in his Mann ki Baat on Sunday.
Highlighting that the coming months are replete with festivities, PM Modi conveyed his wishes and greetings to people across India.
India’s Calendar in Sync With Nature
In his last address of 2018 via radio programme to the nation, PM Modi spoke about the interconnection between the Indian calendar and nature playing a significant role in how the country’s festivals are celebrated.
“It comprises festivals all around year as well as the movements of the celestial bodies. This traditional calendar depicts our bonding with natural and astronomical events,” PM Modi said and went on to talk about festivals celebrated across the country and their relation to the movement of celestial bodies.
“Gudi Padva, Chettichand, Ugadi and others are all celebrated according to the lunar calendar, whereas Tamil Putandu Vishnu, Baisakh, Baisakhi, Poila Boisakh, Bihu are all celebrated in accordance with solar calendar,” PM Modi said.
“Best wishes to our food providers, the farming brothers and sisters,” the prime minister added.
On Fervour Surrounding Kumbh Mela
PM Modi praised the fervour around Kumbh Mela and said, “You must have heard a lot about Kumbh. Even in films, a lot is exhibited regarding its grandeur and magnificence and most truly so, the dimensions of Kumbh are vast – supremely divine, as much magnificent.”
Much emphasis is being laid on cleanliness during Kumbh, the prime minister said.
The process of priests converging at Kumbh Mela has already started, the prime minister said, adding that, “It is a measure of its global importance that last year UNESCO has marked Kumbh Mela in its list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. National flags of many countries were together hoisted at Kumbh.”
‘Will Celebrate Bapu’s Birth Anniversary’
PM Modi, in his address, also announced that the nation will celebrate Mahatma Gandhi’s 150th birth anniversary on Republic Day.
“There is a lot of curiosity regarding the celebrations of Republic Day on 26th January, when we remember those great men who gave us our Constitution. This year we are celebrating the 150th birth anniversary of revered Bapu,” PM Modi said.
Recounting Mandela’s praise for Mahatma Gandhi, PM Modi said, “Mandela said Mahatma (Bapu) is an integral part of our history, because it was here that he used his first experiment with truth. He had developed the philosophy of his satyagraha and his methods of struggle. Mandela considered Bapu as his role model.”
‘Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan a Success’
PM Modi also took to his radio programme to announce that his government-led cleanliness programme was successful.
“Today, I’m saying it with pride that it was the collective efforts that made the ‘Swachch Bharat Mission’ a successful campaign. I was told that a few days ago, in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, over three lakh people came together to work for the sanitation campaign,” the prime minister said.
Ahead of PM Modi’s last Mann ki Baat address for the year, the BJP state unit in Uttarakhand distributed 228 brand new radios to volunteers in all zones for playing the prime minister’s address for the locals, in what is being termed as a big outreach exercise, reported The Times of India.
BJP office’s state president told TOI, that the workers will be holding a special gathering where these radios will be used. The radios have been distributed keeping districts in consideration.
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