Chennai, Jan 15 (PTI) A senior RSS leader today askedpeople in the country to unite and be fearless, saying'Bharat Mata' was the unifying factor.
Greeting people on the occasion of Pongal, RSS generalsecretary Suresh Bhaiyyaji Joshi said "our festivals are notfor mere enjoyment or celebration alone and signified unity".
Citing the significance behind the harvest festival ofPongal which marks sun's movement towards north giving morelight, he quoted a Upanishad shloka "Tamsoma Jyotirgamaya,"(Lead me to Light from darkness).
Joshi said knowledge will help resolve differences and itshould be enhanced, while bearing in mind that 'Bharat Mata'was the binding factor.
He was participating in a temple function in suburbanHasthinapuram here.
Citing the example of a seasame and jaggery based sweetmade in Maharashtra, he said the sesame seeds when mixed withjaggery became strong and even difficult to bite.
Similarly, when people came together shedding differencesthe society will get strengthened, he said.
"There may be differences in respect of language, dress,and even the food we eat," he said.
Despite this, the philosophy of Hindu thought was thatGod is one though forms could differ and that 'pranashakthi,'(the force that sustains life in every being) was the same inevery human being.
He said "we have the strength of devatas (angels)...wehave to be fearless and help the needy...Pongal gives themessage of Rashtra Bhakthi (love for one's country)." Joshi also participated in "Gho puja (cow worship)" andlater offered prayers at the Desa Muthumariyamman temple anddistributed prizes to winners in various competitions held aspart of Pongal festival.
His address in Hindi was later translated in Tamil. PTIVGNTVS.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.