India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi greeted Indians today on September 25, on the occasion of the Navratri festival. “As the auspicious festival of Navratri begins, I convey my warm greetings to everyone. We bow to Maa Jagdamba and seek her blessings. May Maa Jagdamba enrich our lives with strength, well-being, good health and may she keep inspiring us to serve the poorest of the poor,” he said in a message.
Navratri is a 9-day festival that marks the celebration of the goddess and is celebrated across the country. It continues till October 2, and will be followed by the auspicious tenth day, known as Dussehra or Vijayadashami, on October 3. Navratri literally translates to nine nights, and is listed in several Hindu scriptures such as the Taittreya Upanishad and Garuda Purana, as an auspicious time for spiritual seeking.
Modi is known to be a keen follower of cultural customs, and will be fasting during Navratri, which also happens to coincide with his trip to the United States beginning in the next couple of days.
“He will only consume lemonade with some honey and a cup of tea every day,” a senior diplomatic official in the Prime Minister’s office said. “He has been fasting for the last four decades and does not want to change this pattern even while he is travelling,” the official added. Though doctors are said to have advised Modi to consume at least fruits and some solid food, the PM is said to have refused. The White House has reported that they will be respecting Modi’s customs and therefore, there will be no official dinner for Modi with Barrack Obama.
“He wakes up at 4 a.m., meditates, prays and carries his own bottle of lemonade with him,” said a government official who had worked with Modi for a dozen years when he was Chief Minister of Gujarat. “In the U.S. you will not see him having dinner or lunch with Obama,” he added.