Attends 9th Maati Samman Samaroh in Mumbai
Felicitates distinguished personalities from Purvanchal
RK News Service
Srinagar, May 16: “No tree grows tall by abandoning its roots. It rises because its roots reach deep into the earth. The deeper the roots, the bolder the branches that stretch toward the sky. A nation that knows its own spirit never loses its way. The strength of the future will depend on how deeply we honour our roots,” Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said on Saturday.
The LG attended the 9th Maati Samman Samaroh, a Purvanchal festival of art, culture, food, and tourism in Mumbai, and felicitated distinguished personalities from Purvanchal, stating that the historical, cultural, and spiritual bonds between Purvanchal and Maharashtra run very deep.
Addressing the gathering, the Lieutenant Governor said a glimpse of this bond can be seen in Lord Ram’s Vanvas, when he visited Panchvati and worshipped at Kashi Vishwanath and Trimbakeshwar, strengthening the spiritual traditions of both regions.
“Purvanchal is not just a region on the map, but Purvanchal is a consciousness. It is a living energy that has offered humanity a fresh perspective. Purvanchal is an idea. To me, Purvanchal is both a celebration of spirituality and an expression of devotion. Purvanchal brings the fragrance of art and the exuberance of culture. It is the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna and Sarasvati, and the restraint of ascetic, selfless sages,” he said.
Sinha observed that in modern times, the contributions of Lokmata Ahilyabai Holkar, Raghunath Rao, and Malhar Rao Holkar were extraordinary. “When Purvanchal was wounded by invaders and struggling to reclaim its spiritual and cultural radiance, Lokmata Ahilyabai Holkar took up the mantle. From Kashi Vishwanath Temple to Manikarnika, Dashashwamedh, and Ahilyabai ghats, many temples and ghats came into being because of her patronage,” he said.
The LG said that saints from Maharashtra and Purvanchal—Sant Tukaram, Sant Gyaneshwar, Sant Namdev, Sant Eknath, Sant Ramdas, Goswami Tulsidas, Sant Kabir, and Sant Ravidas—awakened social consciousness and showed society a new path.
He noted that Purvanchal embodies a heritage from Lord Rama to the Buddha, where many Upanishads were born, the Ramcharitmanas took shape, and numerous Jain and Buddhist texts found their voice. Heroes of the independence struggle like Mangal Pandey, Chandrashekhar Azad, Ram Prasad Bismil, Ashfaqulla Khan, Rani Lakshmibai, and Chittu Pandey changed the nation’s destiny.
The Lieutenant Governor said that many districts of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar have made significant contributions to Maharashtra’s economy, with Maharashtra leading at 15.7% of the nation’s GDP while Uttar Pradesh ranks second at 9.2%.