Pongal reflects the national spirit of ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat’: PM

Addressing on the occasion, the Prime Minister conveyed his best wishes on the occasion of Pongal and said that the festive fervour can be witnessed emanating from every home in Tamil Nadu.

“தள்ளா விளையுளும் தக்காரும் தாழ்விலாச்
செல்வரும் சேர்வது நாடு.”

நாட்டு மக்களின் தேவைக்குக் குறையாத விளைபொருளும், தகுதியுடைய சான்றோர்களும், தாழ்வில்லாத செல்வத்தை உடையவரும் ஒன்று சேர்ந்திருப்பதே, நல்ல நாடாகும் எனும் பொருள் கொண்ட “#திருக்குறளை” மேற்கோள் காட்டி பேசினார் மாண்புமிகு… pic.twitter.com/Q9BcieGEV1

— Dr.L.Murugan (மோடியின் குடும்பம்) (@Murugan_MoS) January 14, 2024

“Wish you all a very happy Pongal! On this pious occasion, I wish happiness, prosperity and contentment to flow in your lives. Today, I feel like I am celebrating Pongal with my own kith and kin,” he said.

“The country celebrated the festival of Lohri yesterday. Some people are celebrating Makar Sankranti today and some people will celebrate tomorrow, Magh Bihu is also coming, I extend my greetings to the countrymen for these festivals,” he said.

Prime Minister Modi expressed delight in recognising similar faces and recalled meeting them during Tamil Puthandu celebrations last year. Thanking Union Minister, L Murugan for the invite for today’s occasion, the Prime Minister said that the feeling is similar to celebrating festivities with family and friends.

Quoting great saint Thiruvalluvar, the Prime Minister highlighted the role of educated citizens, honest businessmen and good crop in nation-building and said that during Pongal, fresh crop is offered to god which puts ‘Annadata Kisans’ at the center of this festive tradition. He underlined the rural, crop and farmer connection of every festival of India.  He recalled how last time, he talked about the connection between Millets and Tamil traditions. He expressed happiness that there is a new awareness about the superfood Shri Anna and many youth have taken up startup ventures on millets – Shri Anna. He informed that more than 3 crore farmers doing millet farming are directly getting benefitted from millet promotion.

Observing the tradition of drawing Kolam outside the houses by women from the Tamil community during Pongal celebrations, the Prime Minister dwelled on the process and noted that the design is laid by making multiple dots on the ground using flour, each one having a different significance, but the real look of the Kolam becomes more magnificent when all these dots are joined and filled with colour to create a big artwork. Drawing similarities to India’s diversity with Kolam, the Prime Minister said that when every corner of the country connects emotionally with each other, the nation’s strength appears in a new form.

Our beloved PM Thiru @narendramodi avl has always carried the rich Tamil culture & heritage with pride worldwide.

Delighted to be a part of the vibrant Pongal Celebration along with our Hon Prime Minister Thiru @narendramodi avl today organised at the residence of Hon MoS Thiru… pic.twitter.com/WlfMpuGZ2d

— K.Annamalai (மோடியின் குடும்பம்) (@annamalai_k) January 14, 2024

“The festival of Pongal reflects the national spirit of Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat”, Modi remarked. He also noted that the same spirit can be witnessed in the tradition started by Kashi-Tamil Sangamam and Saurashtra-Tamil Sangamam which records enthusiastic participation by people from the Tamil community in large numbers.

The Prime Minister said, “This feeling of unity is the biggest force to build a Viksit Bharat by 2047. The main element of the Panch Pran that I have invoked from the Red Fort is to energize the unity of the country and to strengthen the unity. He concluded with a call for re-dedicating ourselves to the resolution of strengthening the unity of the nation on this auspicious occasion of Pongal.

Puducherry Lt Governor and Telangana Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan and Tamil Nadu BJP unit chief K Annamalai were also present on the occasion.