PM Modi hails 'Bharat ki Laxmi' in Mann ki Baat address on Diwali

As the country is celebrating Diwali today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his greetings to everyone in his Mann ki Baat address. He also recited a Sanskrit shloka, conveying a 'purposeful message'.

Speaking on the 58th edition of his monthly radio program 'Mann ki Baat', he said, "On the pious festival of Deepawali, greetings to all of you. We are familiar with the lines of the shloka - Shubham Karoti Kalyanam Aarogyam Dhansampadaa. Shatrubudhdhi Vinashaay, Deepajyoti Namostute! What a fine, purposeful message! The shloka says: It is light that ushers in joy, health, and prosperity into our lives, dispelling negative thought, bringing in positivity. I salute the divine flame respectfully." 

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"To make this Diwali memorable, what could be a better way than an attempt to let the light spread its radiance, encouraging positivity, with a prayer to quell the feeling of animosity," he added.

PM Modi pitched the idea of "Festival Tourism" and said that we must try to popularise our festivals and invite people from other states and countries to join the festivities. Modi also underlined that Indians living abroad have an important role in boosting festival tourism in the country. He said, "Festival tourism has its own exciting attractions globally. India is the land of festivals that presents immense possibilities for festival tourism." 

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"We must try to popularise our festivals such as Holi, Diwali, Onam, Pongal or Bihu and it must be our endeavour to ensure that we should welcomingly invite people from other states and countries to join in the festivities. Every state and religion in our country has its own festivals and people from foreign countries have a keen interest in them," the Prime Minister added. 

He also urged the citizens to celebrate 'Nari Shaki' the power and achievement of women, thereby felicitating the 'Lakshmi of India.' Further elaborating the 'Bharat ki Laxmi' initiative PM said, "We had decided to do something different this Diwali. I had urged all of you to celebrate India’s Nari Shakti, the power and achievement of women, thereby felicitating the Lakshmi of India."

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'Bharat ki Laxmi' Campaign 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's new campaign 'Bharat Ki Laxmi' is aimed at empowering the women of the country. In his address to the nation during the 57th edition of 'Mann Ki Baat', the Prime Minister said that it is time we felicitate daughters and he urged the citizens to share stories of women achievers they know of with the hashtag #BharatkiLaxmi. Soon #Bharatkilaxmi started trending on social media. PM also shared the video and said that India’s Nari Shakti epitomises talent and tenacity, determination and dedication and stated Indian ethos has always taught us to strive for women empowerment. 

This is not the first time that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has launched such campaigns supporting women empowerment. In 2015, the PM launched 'Selfie with Daughter' where he urged the parents to share pictures with their daughters on social media. The Prime Minister said that the concept will bring a boost to the Centre's 'Beti Bachao' campaign. 

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(with ANI inputs)