NAGERCOIL: A Bharat Mata temple, a Ramayana exhibition and a 27-feet Veer Hanuman statue in the Vivekananda Kendra in Kanyakumari were inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi through video conferencing (VC) on Thursday.
Built at a cost of Rs 15 crore, the triple project is set in a two-storeyed building spread over an area of 6,000 square feet in the Vivekananda Kendra premises in Kanyakumari.
The PM started his inauguration speech in Tamil by saying, “Anbulla Tamil Makkale, en vannakkam (Dear Tamil people, my greetings)” and extended his Pongal greetings in Tamil with “En iniya Pongal vaazthukkal”. He then switched over to Hindi, when he delivered a 20-minutes speech During the speech, Modi stressed that the main motive of his government was the upliftment of the poorest of the poor. He quoted various lines from the Kamba Ramayanam and Thirukkural and the words of former President Abdul Kalam in his speech.
The PM offered his tributes to Swami Vivekananda and said that he was a giant and that his powerful thoughts continued to shape several minds. “India is a young country and youngsters form a good number in the country’s population, he said, even as he stressed on the importance of the role of youngsters in the development of the nation, during his speech.
Union Minister of State for Road Transport, Highways and Shipping, Pon Radhakrishnan, and other office bearers of Vivekananda Kendra participated in a function held at the Vivekananda Kendra.
A 12-feet high statue of Bharat Mata, made of Panchaloka, is installed in the first floor of the new building. The Ramayana pictorial exhibition, set up on the ground floor, depicts 108 important episodes from the Valmiki Ramayana through mural paintings. The Hanuman statue is installed on the front side of the Ramayana exhibition hall.