New Delhi: There is excitement and enthusiasm in the entire country because of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, Prime Minister Narendra Modi told listeners in the 108th episode of Mann Ki Baat, ahead of the temple’s inauguration on 22 January.
Incidentally, number 108 is considered auspicious among Hindus — a point the PM did not miss in his speech.
“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,” Modi said in the last episode of his monthly radio broadcast this year.
“That’s why the 108th episode of Mann Ki Baat has become all the more special for me,” he added.
Referring to the inauguration of the temple, the PM said: “People are expressing their feelings in a multitude of ways. You must have noticed that in the last few days, many new songs and bhajans have been composed on Shri Ram and Ayodhya.”
“Many people are also writing poems. There are many experienced artists in it and new emerging young artists have also composed heart-warming bhajans.”
He added that the “art world” was becoming a participant in this “historic moment” in its own unique style.
The PM also appealed to listeners to share their artistic creations (in relation to the temple) on social media with the hashtag “Shri Ram Bhajan”.
“This compilation will turn into a flow of emotions and devotion in which everyone will be immersed with the ethos of Ram,” he asserted.
The Ram Mandir is expected to be a major poll plank for the BJP-led central government in the run up to the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Sunday’s Mann ki Baat episode also focussed on the achievements of India in the year gone by.
Referring to “special achievements” from 2023, the PM mentioned the women’s reservation Bill brought by the Centre, the “success of G20” (the summit was held in India this year), “India becoming the fifth largest economy”, the success of Chandrayaan-3 and the Naatu Naatu song winning an Oscar (Best Original Song), among other things.
The PM further highlighted the importance of mental fitness, drawing inputs from spiritual guru Jaggi Vasudev, cricketer Harmanpreet Kaur, chess legend Viswanathan Anand and actor Akshay Kumar.
From Kaur’s “one cannot out-train a bad diet” to Viswanathan’s stress on getting “a good night’s sleep”, everyone gave tips for mental well-being.
Extending his wishes to the country on New Year’s Eve, Modi said: “We have to continuously work for the development of India keeping in mind the panch pran (five resolves).”
“Whatever work we do, whatever decision we make, our first criterion should be… what the country will get from it and what benefit it will bring to the country,” he asserted.
(Edited by Nida Fatima Siddiqui)
Also Read: Clean India to New India—Modi’s Mann Ki Baat weren’t just messages. They became movements