PM Modi greets Tamil Nadu on Pongal, writes to people of the state
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Wednesday, extended Pongal greetings to the people of Tamil Nadu, beginning his message with the traditional Tamil salutation “vanakkam”.
In a letter addressed to the people of the state, the Prime Minister conveyed his wishes for prosperity and well-being on the occasion of the harvest festival, which is widely celebrated by Tamils across the world.
PM Modi is also scheduled to attend Pongal celebrations later in the day at the residence of Union Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting L Murugan in the national capital.
Separately, the Prime Minister extended greetings on Makar Sankranti, offering prayers for the happiness, prosperity and good health of citizens. In a post on X, he said the festival, observed across the country under different names and traditions, marks the transition of the Sun into Capricorn and the beginning of Uttarayana, which is considered auspicious.
The BJP has marked the festival with a political-cultural outreach programme titled ‘Namma Ooru Modi Pongal’ (Our Town’s Modi Pongal), under which party workers and supporters are celebrating Pongal at the local level while highlighting the Centre’s welfare schemes and the Prime Minister’s leadership.
Pongal, one of the most important festivals in Tamil culture, is a harvest celebration that honours nature, the Sun, farm animals and farmers, and is traditionally observed as a family festival symbolising gratitude and prosperity. To mark the occasion, the Tamil Nadu government has announced a Pongal gift hamper for eligible beneficiaries, including rice, sugar and sugarcane.