Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday highlighted the rich heritage of Tamil culture, saying it is not limited to Tamil Nadu only, but is the common heritage of the entire country.
In the national capital, Union Minister L. Addressing an event organized to mark the Pongal festival at Murugan’s residence, the Prime Minister said festivals like Pongal strengthen the spirit of “Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat”.
Prime Minister Modi said, “Tamil culture is not limited to Tamil Nadu only; it is the common heritage of the entire Indian nation. In fact, it is the common heritage of the entire humanity. When I talk about the spirit of ‘One India, Great India’, festivals like Pongal make this spirit even stronger.”
The Prime Minister said that Pongal has now become a global festival and it is a privilege for him to participate in its celebration. He further said that this festival reflects the hard work of farmers and expresses gratitude towards nature, earth and sun.
The Prime Minister said, “Pongal has become a global festival today. It is celebrated with great enthusiasm by the Tamil community and admirers of Tamil culture across the world, and I am one of them. It is a privilege for me to celebrate this special festival with all of you. Pongal is a joyful experience in our lives. It reflects the hard work of our food providers – the farmers – and expresses gratitude towards the earth and the sun. Also, this festival shows us the way to maintain balance between nature, family and society. Is.”
During this, Prime Minister Modi also mentioned the widespread enthusiasm across the country for festivals like Lohri, Makar Sankranti and Magh Bihu.
The Prime Minister said, “At this time there is a lot of excitement about Lohri, Makar Sankranti, Magh Bihu and many other festivals in different parts of the country. I extend my hearty greetings to the Tamil brothers and sisters living in India and across the world on the occasion of Pongal and all these festivals.”
Pongal, one of the most important festivals for Tamil people across the world, symbolizes gratitude towards nature, the sun, farm animals and farmers. It is traditionally celebrated as a family festival, symbolizing prosperity, gratitude and togetherness.
To facilitate the celebrations, the Tamil Nadu government had already announced a Pongal gift package containing one kilogram of raw rice, one kilogram of sugar and one sugarcane vine for all eligible beneficiaries.