Diwali celebration with soldiers was unforgettable: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said that his Diwali celebration with soldiers in the Gurez Sector of Jammu and Kashmir was an unforgettable experience.

"Celebrating Diwali with soldiers in the Gurez Sector of Jammu and Kashmir was an unforgettable experience for me. I salute the soldiers on behalf of the countrymen, for the commitment with which they defend our borders. We must try to know the tales of valour of our soldiers as much as possible," he said, while speaking to the nation in his monthly radio address 'Mann ki Baat'.

The prime minister, moving on to another recently-celebrated festival, Chhath, said the tradition of asking for the 'prasad' in the Chhath Pooja teaches people to kill their ego.

"Normally, people consider it inferior to ask for something from others. But in Chhath, there is a tradition of asking for the prasad. The spirit behind this tradition is to kill one's ego, the emotion which obstructs one's progress. Every Indian must be proud of such a tradition," he said.

He further said that the Chhath festival also entailed a strong spirit of cleanliness.

"People gather together to clean houses as well as the ghaat and rivers before festivals. This is a festival of environment protection, discipline and freedom from disease," he added.

Meanwhile, ahead of the Guru Nanak Jayanti, the prime minister urged people to follow the path shown by Guru Nanak Dev Ji.

"We will be celebrating the Guru Nanak Jayanti on November 4. Guru Nanak Dev Ji is not only the first Guru of Sikhs, he is also the Jagat Guru. He worked for the welfare of humanity. He emphasised on women empowerment and respect. He travelled 28,000 km on foot and spread the message of humanity during his journey. He showed people the path of truth, honesty, sacrifice and infused a feeling of service in people," Prime Minister Modi said.

"Guruji gave three messages - 'Pray to God, work hard and serve the needy'. He created 'Gurbani' to convey his message. We will commemorate the 550th Prakash Parv of Guru Nanak Dev in 2019. Let's try to follow the path shown by him," he added.

This was Prime Minister Modi's 37th 'Mann ki Baat' address.