Bhubaneswar, July 27: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday praised ‘Radhakrishna Sankirtan Mandali’ group from Odisha's Keonjhar district for raising awareness about forest fires by singing ‘kirtans’.
Notably, Kirtan is a form of devotional singing or chanting, usually performed in groups, and is common in many Indian spiritual traditions, especially Hinduism, Sikhism, and certain forms of Bhakti yoga.
In the 124th edition of his monthly radio broadcast 'Mann Ki Baat', PM Modi said that while it may be hard to imagine, a group is using ‘kirtans’ to raise awareness about forest fires. He highlighted the efforts of the group, calling their work truly remarkable.
"The most beautiful glimpse of India's diversity is found in our folk songs and traditions, and our bhajans and kirtans are a part of this. But have you ever heard that people are made aware of forest fires through kirtans? You may not believe it, but amazing work is happening in Keonjhar district of Odisha. Here, there is a group named Radhakrishna Sankirtan Mandali," the PM said.
PM Modi said that along with devotion, the group is now also spreading the message of environmental protection through their kirtans. He mentioned that the inspiration behind this unique initiative is Pramila Pradhan, who has added new lyrics and messages about forest conservation to traditional songs.
"Along with devotion, today, this group is also chanting the mantra of environmental protection. The inspiration behind this initiative is Pramila Pradhan ji. To protect the forest and the environment, she has added new lyrics and new messages to traditional songs. Her troupe went from village to village. Through songs, people were made to understand how much damage forest fires cause. This example reminds us that our folk traditions are not something of the past; they still have the power to give direction to society," said PM Modi.
PM Modi also highlighted a similar success story from Mayurbhanj district where more than 650 tribal women have revived the traditional Santhali saree. He said that these women are now earning thousands of rupees every month through their work.
"There is a similar success story in Mayurbhanj, Odisha. Here, more than 650 tribal women have revived the Santhali saree. Now these women are earning thousands of rupees every month. They are not just making clothes, but also carving their own identity," he added.
