New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Ashtalakshmi Mahotsav at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi today. In his welcome address, PM Modi expressed his firm belief that in the times to come, India’s growth story will belong to Eastern India, and Northeast in particular.
Welcoming all the dignitaries to the event, PM Modi remarked that Bharat Mandapam had been a witness to many national and international events over the past 2 years including the successful organization of G20 meeting, PM Modi remarked that today’s event was even more special. He added that the event had made the entire Delhi glisten with diverse shades of North-East India. Adding that the first Ashtalakshmi Mahotsav will be celebrated over the next 3 days, the PM said the event would display the potential of entire North-East India to the country and the world. He added that the event would witness many business agreements and also display various products from the North-East along with the culture, cuisine and other attractions. Terming the event as unique and first of its kind, PM Modi said the event would open doors to huge investment opportunities in North East India. He added this was a great opportunity for the farmers, workers and craftsmen along with the investors across the world. Remarking that exhibitions at the event displayed the diversity and the potential of North-East India, the PM congratulated and gave his best wishes to the organizers of Ashtalakshmi Mahotsav, people of North-East India and the investors.
PM Modi remarked that after the West-centric period in the last 100 to 200 years, the 21st century belongs to the East, that is Asia and India. Modi expressed his firm belief that in the times to come, India’s growth story also belongs to Eastern India, and Northeast in particular. He stressed that in the coming decades, India will see the new potential of cities like Guwahati, Agartala, Imphal, Itanagar, Gangtok, Kohima, Shillong and Aizawl and events like Ashtalakshmi would play a major role in that.
Touching upon the Indian tradition, the Prime Minister said that Goddess Lakshmi is called the goddess of happiness, health and prosperity. Listing the eight forms of the Goddess Lakshmi, he added that all eight forms are worshipped whenever Goddess Lakshmi is worshipped. Similarly, PM Modi said that Ashtalakshmi of eight states was present in the Northeast of India namely Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura and Sikkim.
Remarking that the first form was Adi Lakshmi, Shri Modi said that the Adi culture is strongly spread in every state of our North East. Noting that every state of the North East India celebrated its own tradition and culture, the Prime Minister listed Cherry Blossom Festival of Meghalaya, Hornbill Festival of Nagaland, Orange Festival of Arunachal, Chapchar Kut Festival of Mizoram, Bihu of Assam, Manipuri Dance and added that there was such great diversity in the North East India.
Discussing the second form of Goddess Lakshmi - Dhan Lakshmi, the Prime Minister said the North East was blessed with abundant natural resources with a great confluence of minerals, oil, tea gardens and bio-diversity. He added that there was a huge potential of renewable energy and this blessing of “Dhan Lakshmi” was a boon for the entire North East.
Highlighting that the third form of Goddess Lakshmi - Dhanya Lakshmi was very kind to the North East, Shri Modi said that the North East was famous for natural farming, organic farming and millets. He expressed that India was proud of Sikkim being the first fully organic state of India. Modi remarked that rice, bamboo, spices and medicinal plants grown in the North East bore witness to the power of agriculture there. He added that the North East had a major role to play in the solutions that today’s India wants to give to the world related to healthy lifestyle and nutrition.
Talking about the fourth form of Asthalakshmi - Gaja Lakshmi, Shri Modi described that Goddess Gaja Lakshmi as seated on a lotus with elephants around her. He noted that the North East had vast forests, national parks like Kaziranga, Manas and other wildlife sanctuaries. He further added that there were amazing caves and attractive lakes.
The Prime Minister highlighted that the North East was known for creativity and skill which was represented by the fifth form of Asthalakshmi - Santan Lakshmi, which meant productivity and creativity. He added that the skill of handlooms and handicrafts like Muga Silk of Assam, Moirang Phi of Manipur, Wankhei Phi, Chakheshang Shawl of Nagaland would win everyone’s heart. He further added that there were dozens of such Geographical Indication (GI) tagged products which showcased the crafts and creativity of the North East.
Discussing the sixth Lakshmi of Ashtalakshmi -Veer Lakshmi which symbolises the confluence of courage and power, PM Modi highlighted that North East was a symbol of the power of women. He cited the example of the Nupi Lan movement of Manipur which showed women power. Shri Modi said that the way in which women of North East raised their voice against slavery will always be recorded in golden letters in the history of India. He added that brave women from the folk tales to our freedom struggle like Rani Gaidinliu, Kanakalata Barua, Rani Indira Devi, Lalnu Ropiliani have inspired the entire country. PM Modi said that even today, the daughters of North East were enriching this tradition. He added that the entrepreneurship of the women of North East gave a great strength to the entire North East, which had no parallel.
Remarking that the seventh Lakshmi of Ashtalakshmi - Jai Lakshmi meant one who bestows fame and glory, the Prime Minister said that today, the North East had a major stake in the expectations from the whole world towards India. He added that while India is focusing on global connectivity of its culture and trade, the North East is the one which connects India with the infinite opportunities of South Asia and East Asia.
Touching upon the eighth Lakshmi of Ashtalakshmi - Vidya Lakshmi, symbolising knowledge and education, Modi noted that many major centers of education in the creation of modern India were in the North East like IIT Guwahati, NIT Silchar, NIT Meghalaya, NIT Agartala, and IIM Shillong. He added that the North East had already got its first AIIMS while the country’s first National Sports University was being built in Manipur. He noted that the North East had given many great sports persons like Mary Kom, Baichung Bhutia, Mirabai Chanu, Lovelina, Sarita Devi to the country. Shri Modi remarked that today, the North East had also started to move forward in technology-related start-ups, service centers and industries like semiconductors with thousands of youth working in these. He added that the region was becoming a major center of education and skills for the youth.
“Ashtalakshmi Mahotsav is a celebration of the better future of the North East”, exclaimed the Prime Minister.
Remarking that the semiconductor sector was new for India, Shri Modi said the Government chose Assam to give impetus to this new sector. He added that when such new industries are set up in the North East, investors from the country and the world would explore new possibilities there.
“We are connecting the Northeast with the trinity of Emotion, Economy and Ecology”, said Shri Modi. He added that the Government was not just building infrastructure in the North East, but also laying a strong foundation for the future.
Noting that the work was progressing rapidly on mobile and gas pipeline connectivity, Shri Modi remarked that every state of North East was being connected to the North East Gas Grid and more than 1600 km long gas pipeline was being laid.
PM Modi said that apart from connectivity of the North East, the Government had also emphasized on its tradition, textile and tourism. He added that the benefit of this is that the people are now coming forward in large numbers to explore the North East.
The Prime Minister desired that the products of North East should reach every market of the world and in this direction the products of every district were being promoted under the One District One Product campaign. He added that one can see many products of the North East in the exhibitions at the rural haat bazaar in AshthaLakshmi Mahotsav. “I promote the mantra of Vocal for Local for the products of North East”, stressed Shri Modi. He said that he tried to present the products from the North East to the foreign guests and this would give recognition to the wonderful art and craft of the North East at the international level. Shri Modi urged the citizens to make the products of North East a part of their lifestyle.
The Union Minister for the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region, Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, Chief Minister of Assam, Himanta Biswa Sarma, Chief Minister of Tripura, Dr. Manik Saha, Chief Minister of Meghalaya, Conrad Sangma, Chief Minister of Sikkim, Prem Singh Tamang and Union Minister of State for Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region Dr. Sukanta Majumdar were present among other dignitaries at the event. (PIB)
Also Read: Eating 5 Mushrooms a Day May Help Combat Heart Disease, Cancer: Research
Also Watch: