Bhubaneswar: Prime Minister Modi was treated to Odisha’s popular sweet delicacy ‘kheeri’ during his visit to Gadakana area in Bhubaneswar on his birthday to launch ‘Griha Pravesh’ ceremony for Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana beneficiaries on Tuesday.
Accompanied by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, the Prime Minister was seen savouring ‘kheeri’ offered by a tribal family at Shabara Sahi area in Gadakana village in the state capital. The ‘Khiri’ was prepared by Antaryami Naik’s daughter-in-law Sadhabi Naik in an earthen pot in accordance with Odia customs pertaining to ‘Griha Pravesh’ ritual.
Besides enjoying the famous Odia delicacy at the PMAY beneficiary’s house and offering prayers to Lord Jagannath, the PM spent over half an hour interacting with several beneficiaries in the area and responding to their queries. He also inquired about their economic well-being and whether they were benefiting from various government schemes. He encouraged them to participate in ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ initiative by planting a tree.
Thereafter, Modi headed for Janata Maidan, where he was scheduled to launch the Subhadra Yojana.
Speaking at the launch event, the Prime Minister turned emotional and narrated his feelings about ‘kheeri’ offered by the tribal family and how it reminded him of his mother. “Before coming here, I went to the home of an Adivasi family to attend their Griha Pravesh event… My sister in that family gave me kheeri to eat. And when I was eating that, it was obvious that I missed my mother. When my mother was alive, I always used to visit her on my birthday to seek her blessings. My mother used to feed me ‘Gud’ (jaggery). She is not there anymore but my Adivasi mother fed me kheeri and gave me birthday blessings…,” he said.
Notably, Modi’s Odisha visit was part of his 74th birthday celebrations, which coincided with the ‘Sewa Pakhwada’ initiative.