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Updated - October 18, 2026 04:26 pm IST - KOZHIKODE

Vice-President C.P. Radhakrishnan greeting the audience during the inauguration of Navaratri Sargotsavam at Kesari Hall in Kozhikode on October 16. | Photo Credit: K. Ragesh

Vice-President C.P. Radhakrishnan has called for concerted efforts to preserve the country’s cultural heritage and promote communal harmony, saying India’s diverse languages, customs, and beliefs were bound by shared values of civilisation.

Opening the Navaratri Sargotsavam-2026 organised by the Kesari Weekly here on Friday (October 16), he said that families, teachers, artists, voluntary organisations, and educational institutions had a collective responsibility to nurture citizens who were scientifically informed, technologically capable, culturally aware, and socially responsible.

Highlighting Keralam’s tradition of interfaith participation in festivals, he said people celebrated occasions such as Ramadan, Christmas, and Onam irrespective of their religious affiliations. He expressed hope that political violence in the State would decline, enabling Keralam to retain its reputation as ‘God’s Own Country’.

The Vice-President said festivals celebrated in different parts of the country reflected India’s cultural diversity while strengthening national unity. Durga Puja in West Bengal, Garba and Dandiya in Gujarat, and the Dasara festivities in Mysuru illustrated the distinct traditions through which the spirit of the festival found expression across regions.

“Traditions may be many, languages may be different, and forms of worship may vary slightly from place to place, but the spirit of celebrating Dasara unites all of us,” he said. He also referred to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat’ initiative, which seeks to foster mutual understanding through cultural exchange.

Referring to Keralam’s tradition of ‘Vidyarambham’ (initiating children to the world of letters) on Vijayadashami, the Vice-President highlighted the importance of education and arts in shaping society.

He said cultural heritage and economic progress were complementary, arguing that a strong cultural foundation gave society a sense of identity and continuity while enabling it to embrace modernity.

The Vice-President presented the first Sarga Kesari Award to artist R.K. Rajendran.

Keralam Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, C. Sadanandan, MP, and former Goa Governor P.S. Sreedharan Pillai were present.

Published - October 16, 2026 08:20 pm IST

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