PM Modi inaugurates Sivagiri pilgrimage celebrations in Kerala

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday inaugurated the 85th annual Sivagiri pilgrimage celebrations at Sivagiri Mutt in Kerala via video conferencing.

The Sivagiri Mutt is a major spiritual-cum-pilgrim centre of the Ezhava community in Kerala and was established by Sri Narayana Guru, who propagated the message of 'One Caste, One Religion and One God for Mankind'.

While delivering his inaugural address at the event, the prime minister said the pilgrimage was Sri Narayan Guruji's vision to develop the society.

"The Sivagiri pilgrimage is nothing but Narayan Guruji's vision to develop the society. Guruji connected everything. His mantras were freedom through education, strength through organisation, economic independence through industries. In order to help the poor, needy, he suggested us these routes. He knew that the poor and the 'dalits' can progress when they will be educated," he said.

On the occasion, the prime minister also highlighted his government's efforts to address the long-pending grievances of the Muslim women, especially in terms of bringing the triple talaq bill.

"After a long time, the Muslim women got freedom from triple talaq. They had been suffering for years," he said.

The prime minister will, on January 1, 2018, make another address via video conferencing, for the curtain raiser ceremony of the commemoration of Prof SN Bose's 125th birth anniversary at Kolkata.