(Image source from: DNA India)

In a pleasant surprise for a great deal of Indians living abroad, Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi recently sent a direct invite for Indian origins across the world to be part of Kumbh at Prayagraj.

The world's biggest religious congregation will be commencing from January 15.

The invitation from PM Modi has been sent through the ministry of external affairs to visit Varanasi for Pravasi Divas on January 21-23 and then Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj and Republic Day.

The residents of Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh whose relatives are settled overseas were rejoicing as the PM's invite will give them an opportunity to get united with their loved ones.

As quoted by TOI, Nandni Mehrotra, a resident of Sardar Patel, said: "My bua (aunty) is settled in Arizona in the USA, she is planning a trip to Varanasi and Prayagraj after she received an email from ministry of external affairs wherein the prime minister Narendra Modi had invited them to attend Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas at Varanasi from January 21 to 23 and Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj to witness the culture and tradition of the country."

The letter by PM Modi reads: "Dear friends, wishing your family a happy new year 2019. Hope this New Year would help to take you New height and success. I am writing this letter in connection with Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas. This year, Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas is being organized at Varanasi from Jan 21 to 23. Being Prime Minister, I would be inaugurating the event as well as being the MP of Varanasi, I have an opportunity to welcome you.

The letter also says, "This time, the Pravasi Diwas is also associated with two more occasions including Kumbh Mela at Prayagraj and Republic Day on January 26. In all, the Pravasi Diwas would be more unique as well as different from other occasions. You would witness a new India apart from rich cultural heritage and traditions."

PM Modi has also requested Pravasi Indians to encourage their friends and relatives settled aboard to be part of Pravasi Diwas in Varanasi who have earlier not godded an opportunity for the same.

Nandini, meanwhile, said, "After receiving a letter from the PM, my relatives are quite excited and have decided to make necessary arrangements as they would be coming to India after a long time to see the Kumbh which they had witnessed in their childhood days.

"When I talked to my aunty, she exchanged memories of old Ardh Kumbh and Kumbh festivals attended by her during childhood days," said Nandini adding "but when I told her this time, Kumbh is being organized in a grand manner and in a new color, she too expressed willingness to be part of it," added Nandini.

Nandini said that NRIs (Non-Resident Indians) have been appealed by the ministry to register themselves which would help them to participate in all events including Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, Kumbh and then Republic Day.

Not only Nandini, Uma Dwivedi, whose daughter Shikha is settled in the United States, has too received a letter from the ministry of external affairs and is chalking out a plan to visit Kumbh Mela.

Dwivedi said, "It is a good opportunity for the family members to be part of Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas and Kumbh Mela". She claimed, "Kumbh Mela has made its reach worldwide and people settled in different countries are being invited for the first time by the Prime Minister through external affair ministry."

-Sowmya Sangam