Stating that “there is excitement and enthusiasm in the entire country in connection with the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya”, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday termed it a “historic moment” and urged people to share artistic creations such as 'bhajans' relating to it on social media with the hashtag 'Shri Ram Bhajan'. He said this compilation will transform into a flow of emotions and devotion, immersing everyone in the ethos of Lord Ram.
Modi also highlighted India's twin wins at this year's Oscars for the song "Naatu Naatu" from "RRR" and documentary short "The Elephant Whisperers" in his last Mann Ki Baat address for 2023. Modi said the country is imbued with the spirit of ‘Viksit Bharat' and self-reliance, and asserted that this spirit and momentum has to be maintained in 2024 as well.
Speaking at the 108th episode of his monthly Mann Ki Baat radio programme, Modi mentioned this is the 108th episode of our shared journey. “For us the importance of the number 108 and its sanctity is a subject of deep study. 108 beads in a rosary, chanting 108 times, 108 divine sites, 108 stairs in temples, 108 bells, this number 108 is associated with immense faith. That's why the 108th episode of 'Mann Ki Baat' has become all the more special for me,” he said.
Modi also pointed out that there are many experienced as well as new emerging young artists who have composed heart-warming bhajans.
"There is excitement and enthusiasm in the entire country in connection with the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. People are expressing their feelings in a multitude of ways. You must have noticed that during the last few days, many new songs and new bhajans have been composed on Shri Ram and Ayodhya," Modi said. Many people are also writing new poems, he noted.
"There are many experienced artists in it and new emerging young artists have also composed heart-warming bhajans. I have also shared some songs and bhajans on my social media," the Prime Minister said. It seems that the art world is becoming a participant in this historic moment in its own unique style, he said.
"One thing comes to my mind. Could we all share all such creations with a common hash tag? I request you to share your creations on social media with the hashtag Shri Ram Bhajan (#shriRamBhajan)," Modi said. "This compilation will turn into a flow of emotions and devotion in which everyone will be immersively imbued with the ethos of Ram," he added.
Modi also emphasised on physical and mental health and highlighted several unique efforts for ‘Fit India'.
During the broadcast, Isha Foundation founder Sadhguru, Indian Women's Cricket Team Captain Harmanpreet Kaur, chess legend Vishwanathan Anand and actor Akshay Kumar shared their fitness tips.
Sadhguru emphasised the importance of working on internal mental health and cultivating an equanimous chemistry within ourselves — a chemistry of peacefulness, joyfulness, and blissfulness. He stressed that this transformation is crucial for every individual's life and for the cultural life of a society and nations around the world. Cricketer Kaur said regular exercise and a full seven-hour sleep are essential for maintaining a healthy body and staying fit. Chess grandmaster Anand said his fitness tip to all 'Mann Ki Baat' listeners would be to keep calm and focus on the task ahead.
"The best fitness tip for me, absolutely the most important fitness tip, is to get a good night's sleep. I think seven or eight hours is an absolute minimum so we should try as hard as possible to get a good night's sleep because that is when the next day you are able to get through the day in calm fashion," he said.
Akshay advised listeners to avoid shortcuts for long-lasting fitness. "You should change your lifestyle on the advice of doctors and not by looking at the body of a film star. Actors are often not what they look like on screen. Many types of filters and special effects are used and after seeing them, we start using wrong shortcuts to change our body.
"Nowadays, so many people take steroids and go for this six-pack or eight-pack," he said. With such shortcuts the body swells from the outside but remains hollow from the inside, Akshay asserted.
"In this New Year, promise yourself: No chemicals, no shortcut. Exercise, yoga, good food, sleeping on time, some meditation and most importantly, happily accept the way you look. After today, don't live a filter life, live a fitter life," the actor said.
During the broadcast, Modi listed several achievements and highs the country experienced in various spheres this year. He pointed out that the record business on Diwali proved that every Indian is giving importance to the mantra of 'vocal for local'.
"Even today many people are sending me messages pertaining to the success of Chandrayaan-3. I am sure that, like me, you too feel proud of our scientists and especially women scientists," he said.
"When 'Natu-Natu' won the Oscar, the whole country rejoiced with fervour. Who would not have been happy to hear about the honour accorded to the 'The Elephant Whisperers'? Through them the world saw the creativity of India and understood our bonding with the environment," Modi said.
He pointed out that this year Indian athletes also performed marvellously in sports with Indian players winning 107 medals in Asian Games and 111 medals in Asian Para Games.
"Indian players won everyone's heart with their performance in the Cricket World Cup. The victory of our women's cricket team in the Under-19 T-20 World Cup is very inspiring. The achievements of players in many other sports added to the glory of the country," Modi said. In his remarks, the PM said India is brimming with self-confidence and is imbued with the spirit of ‘Viksit Bharat (developed India)' and self-reliance.
“We have to maintain the same spirit and momentum in 2024 as well,” Modi said. He also said India becoming an 'innovation hub' symbolises the fact that “we are not going to stop”. India, he said, accomplished many special achievements this year, including the passage of the women's reservation bill.
In his remarks, Modi also recalled the contribution of Savitribai Phule and Rani Velu Nachiyar.
