Mann Ki Baat: PM Modi dedicates Diwali to jawans

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:

• "My warmest wishes to everyone for the happy festival of Diwali" PM Narendra Modi addresses the nation with "Mann Ki Baat".

• Our festivals are linked closely to the nature...the food, weather, everything about a festival is so symbiotic.

• Festivals are fixed not just on the mood of the moon but also mood of the people. All forms of darkness are to be fought with a "deep" of Diwali, we are eliminating all the darkness from inside us and the world around.

• Whole world today celebrate Diwali, it is a festival where we celebrate light over darkness. Is that not something we should inculcate for our society and the living spaces?

• World leaders are celebrating Diwali and sharing their memories and pictures on different social media platforms.

• 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.

• Everyone hails the rising sun but Chhath Puja celebrates the setting sun, there's a social message in this.

• 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.

• Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel worked to bring everyone together, he worked for unity, fought for unity and brought unity amongst people.

• But on one Sardar's birthday, history remembers how sikh people 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 allow divisiveness to spread.