PM Modi, National Leaders Greet Nation on Makar Sankranti and Pongal, Hail Farmers and India’s Cultural Unity
By State Correspondents News Desk |
On the occasion of Makar Sankranti and Pongal, Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended heartfelt greetings to people across India and overseas, praying for happiness, prosperity and good health for all. In messages shared on X and in letters in multiple languages, he described the mid‑winter harvest festivals as symbols of hope, positivity and new beginnings that celebrate the hard work of India’s farmers and the bond between humans and nature.
Modi’s Wishes on Makar Sankranti and Pongal
Greeting citizens on Makar Sankranti, Modi said the sacred occasion, celebrated in diverse forms such as Uttarayan, Khichdi and Magh Bihu, reflects the richness of India’s cultural landscape and the spirit of togetherness that binds the nation. He prayed to Lord Surya that the festival, “filled with the sweetness of til and jaggery,” brings joy, prosperity and success to every household and strengthens bonds of harmony across regions.
Extending wishes for Pongal with a warm “Vanakkam,” the Prime Minister noted that the Tamil harvest festival highlights the close relationship between human labour and the rhythms of nature, celebrating agriculture, rural life and the dignity of work. He called Pongal a proud symbol of the richness of Tamil traditions and reiterated that Tamil is among the world’s oldest living languages, a heritage that India cherishes deeply.
Festive Greetings from Across the Political Spectrum
- President Droupadi Murmu greeted people in India and abroad on Lohri, Makar Sankranti, Pongal and Magh Bihu, calling them symbols of India’s rich agricultural traditions and national unity.
- Congress leader Rahul Gandhi wished citizens on Makar Sankranti, Pongal, Suggi Habba, Bhogali Bihu and other harvest festivals, hoping they bring “hope, happiness, joy and prosperity” to all.
- Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and several governors praised farmers as the “backbone of the nation” and urged people to use the festivals to express gratitude towards nature and food‑growers.
Festivals of Gratitude and Unity
Makar Sankranti marks the Sun’s transition into the zodiac sign of Capricorn (Makar) and is widely celebrated with kite‑flying, holy dips, charitable offerings and traditional sweets made of sesame and jaggery across North and Western India. Pongal, observed mainly in Tamil Nadu, is a four‑day celebration where freshly harvested rice is boiled in decorated clay pots as families thank the Sun, cattle and the land for a bountiful season.
Leaders across parties have urged citizens to celebrate these festivals in a spirit of harmony, sharing and environmental responsibility, underlining that India’s true strength lies in unity in diversity. From kites over Ahmedabad to rangoli and kolam designs in Chennai, this year’s harvest festivities are being seen as an occasion to honour farmers and reaffirm bonds of community after a challenging year for the agrarian economy.
