Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called on Indians to consider Uttarakhand as a destination for winter tourism and weddings, saying the Himalayan state is emerging as an increasingly attractive location for both. In his 'Mann Ki Baat' radio address on Sunday, the Prime Minister said he held a "special affection" for Uttarakhand and noted the "immense potential" of its valleys during the winter season. According to an official release, he urged people across the country to experience the region's landscape, describing the Himalayan winter as offering memories that "will stay with them for a lifetime". Modi said Uttarakhand's "golden winter sunshine" and "mist-laden mountains" had helped make it a growing destination for weddings, particularly
along the banks of the Ganga, where such celebrations have risen significantly. He added that the government's "Wed in India" campaign had also gained momentum during the winter months. Uttarakhand's chief minister, Pushkar Singh Dhami, has been promoting winter tourism initiatives, including winter pilgrimages launched last year. Drawing attention to visitor numbers this season, Modi said Uttarakhand had attracted "a lot of people", and announced that Winter Games would soon be held in the state.
Tourism and Cultural Events Across India
The Prime Minister also highlighted naval-themed tourism, pointing to sites such as the naval museums in Diu and Goa, INS Dronacharya in Fort Kochi, the Samudrika Naval Marine Museum in Srivijayapuram (formerly Port Blair), Rabindranath Tagore Beach in Karwar, and Visakhapatnam.
Also Read: From Wed In India To Promote Local, Here Are PM Modi's 'Sankalp' For India Speaking about Tamil Nadu, Modi described Tamil as "the pride of India" and encouraged people to take part in the upcoming Kashi Tamil Sangamam, which begins on December 2 at Namo Ghat in Varanasi. "Tamil culture is great. Tamil language is great. Tamil is the pride of India," he said in Tamil.
Recent National Events
Reviewing recent occasions, the Prime Minister noted the observance of Constitution Day on November 26 at the Central Hall of Samvidhan Sadan, the old Parliament House, and the start of programmes marking the 150th anniversary of
Vande Mataram. He also referred to the hoisting of the Dharmadhwaja at the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya and the inauguration of the Panchajanya Memorial at Jyotisar in Kurukshetra. Modi said India had recorded a historic food grain output of 357 million tonnes, an increase of 100 million tonnes over the past decade, describing it as a significant milestone. India's selection as host of the Commonwealth Games was another achievement highlighted in his address. He also cited the inauguration of the world's largest LEAP engine MRO facility in Hyderabad, which he said would enhance India's aviation maintenance capacity. Referring to India's defence sector, the Prime Minister noted the induction of the indigenously designed INS Mahe, adding that many people in Puducherry and along the Malabar Coast welcomed the vessel's name. He said some observers had commented that the ship's crest resembled the traditional flexible sword used in Urumi and Kalaripayattu. Modi also highlighted the progress made by India's private space companies, mentioning Skyroot's Infinity Campus. He praised a team from Pune for succeeding in an Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) challenge to fly a drone in Mars-like conditions without GPS. "The drones had to fly with the help of their cameras and inbuilt software," he said. The Prime Minister also congratulated the Indian women's cricket team for winning the ICC Women's World Cup and noted India's best-ever performance at the Deaf Olympics in Tokyo, with 20 medals. He praised women players for winning the Kabaddi World Cup and highlighted India's 20 medals at the World Boxing Cup Finals, acknowledging the women's team that triumphed in the Blind Cricket World Cup.
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