Prime Minister Narendra Modi witnessed a presentation of the Ramayana in Brazil on Tuesday and expressed his appreciation for the performance.
Taking to social media platform X, the Prime Minister said, “Met Jonas Masetti and his team. I had mentioned him during one of the #MannKiBaat programmes for his passion towards Vedanta and the Gita.”
Commending the performance, PM Modi said, “His team presented glimpses of the Ramayana in Sanskrit. It is commendable how Indian culture is making an impact all over the world.”
The Ramayana was performed by students of Vishwa Vidya Gurukulam, a Brazilian organization dedicated to promoting Vedanta and Sanskrit. The organization’s founder, Jonas Masetti, also known as Acharya Vishwanath, welcomed PM Modi with the recitation of a Sanskrit mantra.
Speaking to ANI, Masetti described the Ramayana as a tribute to “Dharma”.
“Ramayana is a tribute to Dharma. Ram represents Dharma, and performing the Ramayana and connecting with Ram Katha is a way of purifying ourselves and adopting a better way of living. It took nearly six years to prepare. In the beginning, we were very nervous and emotional because it meant so much to us,” he said.
Masetti noted that PM Modi was deeply moved by the performance and used the occasion to encourage Indian youth to embrace their cultural roots.
“I’m very glad that he could witness this. I feel very sad when I hear that the youth in India are losing interest in the Vedic tradition and their cultural heritage. I must tell you, the Western way of life, which may seem appealing, often feels dry and unfulfilling. Don’t fall for it. You have a beautiful culture within your home,” he said.
PM Modi is currently on a three-nation visit, during which he attended the G20 Leaders’ Summit in Brazil. The Prime Minister has also engaged in various interactions, highlighting the depth and diversity of Indian culture through events like these.