PM Modi urges Indians to go 'Vocal for Local' in festival shopping

GST ‘Bachat Utsav’ and local resolve

Highlighting the discounts across sectors following GST rate cuts in his Mann Ki Baat address, Modi said, “In the coming days, festivals and joys are coming up, one after another. We do a lot of shopping on every occasion. And this time, a 'GST Bachat Utsav' is also going on. Friends, you can make your festivals even more special by taking a resolve. If we decide to celebrate this festival only with Swadeshi products, you will see the joy of our celebrations rise manifold. Make 'Vocal for Local' your shopping mantra."

Reiterating the push for self-reliance, the prime minister added, “Resolve that for all times, you will buy only what is produced in the country. You will take home only what is made by the people of the country.

"You will use only those goods which bear the toil of a citizen of the country. When we do that, we don't just buy goods; we bring home hope to a family, honour the hard work of an artisan, and give wings to the dreams of a young entrepreneur.”

The renewed emphasis on indigenous goods comes against the backdrop of the US imposing hefty 50% tariffs on Indian exports.

Khadi call on Gandhi Jayanti

Modi also urged every citizen to buy at least one Khadi product on October 2, Mahatma Gandhi’s birth anniversary. He noted that Khadi has grown in popularity over the past 11 years of NDA rule and that the handloom and handicraft sectors are undergoing significant change.

Showcasing local success stories

Citing grassroots examples of innovation blending with tradition, Modi lauded initiatives such as Yaazh Naturals in Tamil Nadu, where yoga mats are made from grass and banana fibre; Johargram in Jharkhand, which has taken tribal weaving to global platforms; and Sankalp Creations in Bihar, where Mithila art has been turned into a livelihood for over 500 rural women.

“All these success stories teach us that our traditions hold innumerable sources of income. If our resolve is strong, success cannot elude us,” Modi said.

Tributes and naval feat

During the broadcast, the prime minister also paid homage to freedom fighter Bhagat Singh and singer Lata Mangeshkar on their birth anniversaries.

He further held a phone conversation with Indian Navy officers Dilna K and Roopa Alagirisamy, who recently navigated over 25,400 nautical miles around the globe aboard the India-built sailboat INSV Tarini as part of the ‘Navika Sagar Parikrama’ mission.