Raipur: President Droupadi Murmu on Thursday graced the 'Seva Samman Parv' and 'Yuva Prabodhan' programme on the occasion of the Nuakhai festival in Raipur, Chhattisgarh, saying the Nuakhai Milan Samaroh is not merely a cultural celebration but a tribute to India's rich traditions, social harmony and unity, the President's Secretariat said in its release on the address.

Source: President's Secretariat release via PrintEdits

The President said Nuakhai is a celebration of agricultural traditions, an expression of gratitude toward nature and a testament to the spirit of community. Food, she said, is not just a means to satisfy hunger; it is a symbol of the hard work of farmers, the generosity of Mother Earth and the gifts of nature, and it is a collective responsibility to respect food, acknowledge farmers' contributions and protect natural resources.

Knowledge with humility, success with service

Addressing young people at the Sardar Balbir Singh Juneja Indoor Stadium, Murmu urged them to aim high, keep learning and link their success to service to society and the nation, The World Opinion reported. She said young people should combine knowledge with humility, ambition with morality and success with a spirit of service, treat setbacks as lessons, and remember that nation-building is shaped by the honest, everyday efforts of millions of citizens. Equal participation of women, she said, is essential for a developed India by 2047.

Source: The World Opinion

Murmu also referred to change in Naxal-affected areas of Chhattisgarh, saying places once overshadowed by violence are now witnessing development and hope, and that young people in the state are moving away from misguidance and joining the mainstream with support from the Central and State governments. Governor Ramen Deka and Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai were present at the programme.

Welcoming the President, Chief Minister Sai described the occasion as a celebration of agricultural culture, social harmony and gratitude towards farmers' toil, Nation Press reported. According to the Chief Minister, the programme's Seva Sankalp Abhiyan blood-donation drive saw 2,548 people donate blood, including 1,188 women, and the state is expanding youth opportunities through five new medical colleges, an AI mission to train six lakh students and a Rs 100 crore (yaani Rs 1 billion) startup fund.

Source: Nation Press