Prime Minister Modi referred to the return of a statue of the goddess Annapurna from Canada, a century after it was said to have been stolen from here.
“Today is a special occasion for Kashi,” he said in his second speech during a visit to his constituency of Lok Sabha, Varanasi.
“The ancient idols of our gods and goddess are symbols of our faith and also of an invaluable heritage,” he said, adding that if similar efforts had been made earlier, the country could have recovered much more of its heritage.
“For us, legacy (‘viraasat’) means the heritage of the country (‘desh ki dharohar’). But for some people, legacy means your family and your family’s name. For us, legacy means our culture, our faith, our values. For them, legacy means their own statues and the photographs of their family, “he said, without naming anywhere.
He was speaking at the Dev Deepawali festival in Varanasi, when the banks of the Ganges were lit up with rows of lamps.
Earlier that day, he dedicated the six lanes of the road to Allahabad to the nation and offered prayers at the Kashi Vishwanath temple.
“Today, when Kashi’s heritage is returning, it seems that Kashi has decked himself out for the arrival of Mata Annapurna,” said the Prime Minister, calling the illuminated ghats spectacle ‘alaukik’ or divine.
He paid tribute to the fallen soldiers, indirectly referring to Pakistan and “expansionist” China.
“Whether it is attempts to infiltrate across the border, the audacity of expansionist forces or those hatching a conspiracy to break the country from within, India is responding, and it is giving an adequate response,” he said.
He reiterated his call for ‘Vocal por Local’, referring to the way people celebrated Diwali this time, the use of local products was inspiring.
But this should not be limited to festivals and should become a part of everyone’s life, he said.
.
