Mann Ki Baat: PM Modi dedicates Diwali to jawans

We have to forget about all our customs and traditions and treat a girl and a boy equally and we are moving fast, says PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi. (Photo: PTI)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday shared his thoughts with the nation in the 25th edition of his 'Mann Ki Baat' programme.

Here are the highlights:

• World leaders are celebrating Diwali and sharing their memories and pictures on different social media platforms.From this year, Diwali was made an optional holiday at the UN and a "Happy Diwali" message was displayed on the UN building, India's permanent representative to the UN Syed Akbaruddin tweeted Saturday night.

• Diwali is now not just celebrated in India, but all over the world. Diwali is a festival which is bringing people together.

• Sometimes young people get carried away while lighting fireworks, they invite danger, this worries me. I request parents & guardians that if their little kids are bursting crackers they should be monitored & accompanied.

• India's festivities are linked to one principle - to connect oneself to the higher being. The world is speaking about environment today, our festivals have always celebrated our links to nature. Diwali gives us the message to shed darkness and walk towards light.

• Chhath is a very big festival in eastern India and it is celebrated with great fervour and it goes on for four days. There is a saying across the world that people worship the shining sun, but Chhath is the only festival in which people offer 'arghya' (offering water) to the setting sun, which gives a great social message. The Chhath Puja is performed in order to thank lord Sun, who is considered the god of energy. Sun is worshiped to promote well-being, prosperity and progress, he said.

• I also have to thank the citizens of the nation for their support & love for our security forces and jawans protecting us.

• From last few months our jawans are sacrificing their lives, we should celebrate this Diwali in their name. People from all walks of life sent messages of love and encouragement for our jawans, just as they light candles for their well being.

• Dedicate this Diwali to our soldiers. #Sandesh2Soldiers hashtag was used so much by everyone and we were flooded with well wishes and love for jawans from citizens. Be it BSF, CRPF etc, our jawans are on duty and guarding us; that is why we are celebrating Diwali joyfully.

• We have to forget about all our customs and traditions and treat a girl and a boy equally, and we are moving fast.

• Tomorrow we are celebrating Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's birth anniversary. We are also remembering Indira Gandhi ji tomorrow.

• Remembering the contribution of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel popularly known as 'Iron man' of India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday urged the nation to promote unity and equality among all. "Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel worked to bring everyone together, he worked for unity, fought for unity and brought unity among the people. We also have to forget about all our customs and traditions and treat a girl and a boy equally, and we are moving fast," said Prime Minster Modi. "We should take a positive step towards it and work to promote equality in the society. But on one Sardar's birthday, history remembers how the Sikhs and 'sardars' all over the country faced violence and pain, which is why we all need to learn that we all must unite and work towards unity rather than allowing divisiveness to spread," he added.

• Remembering Guru Nanak and his life and teachings hold message for the people of today and said that Kartik Purnima is celebrated as the Prakash Parv or birthday of Guru Nanak Devji. His teachings are the guiding principles not only for Indians but for the entire humanity."Principles of service, truthfulness and welfare of all are the core of his teachings," he added. Prime Minister Modi, co-relating the teaching of Guru Nanak and his government's motto, also said "Guru Nanak Dev's teachings inspire us to shun discrimination of all kind. 'Sabka Sath, Sabka Vikas' is based on the same mantra of non-discrimination, given by Guru Nanak Dev."

• Which is why we all need to learn that we all must unite, and work towards unity rather than allow divisiveness to spread.