Noting that Bharat Mandapam had been a witness to many national and international events over the past 2 years including the successful organization of the G20 meeting, Shri Modi remarked that today’s event was even more special. He added that the event had made the entire Delhi glisten with diverse shades of North-East India. Adding that the first Ashtalakshmi Mahotsav will be celebrated over the next 3 days, Shri Modi said the event would display the potential of the entire North-East India to the country and the world. He added that the event would witness many business agreements and also display various products from the Northeast along with the culture, cuisine, and other attractions. He further added that the event would also inspire the people from the achievements of various achievers, including Padma awardees who were present. Terming the event as unique and first of its kind, Shri Modi said the event would open doors to huge investment opportunities in North East India. He added this was a great opportunity for the farmers, workers, and craftsmen along with investors across the world. Remarking that exhibitions at the event displayed the diversity and the potential of North-East India, Shri Modi congratulated and gave his best wishes to the organizers of Ashtalakshmi Mahotsav, the people of North-East India, and the investors.

The Prime Minister said that in the last 100 to 200 years, everyone witnessed the rise of the Western world and the Western region has had an influence on the world at every level - economic, social, and political. He added that India too had incidentally seen the influence of the Western region and its role in its growth story. Shri Modi remarked that after the West-centric period, the 21st century belonged to the East, that is Asia and India. Shri Modi expressed his firm belief that in the times to come, India’s growth story also belongs to Eastern India, and Northeast in particular. He added that in the past decades, India had seen the emergence of big cities like Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Delhi, Chennai, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad. Shri Modi stressed that in the coming decades, India will see the new potential of cities like Guwahati, Agartala, Imphal, Itanagar, Gangtok, Kohima, Shillong, and Aizawl and events like Ashtalakshmi would play a major role in that.

Touching upon the Indian tradition, the Prime Minister said that Goddess Lakshmi is called the goddess of happiness, health, and prosperity. Listing the eight forms of the Goddess Lakshmi, he added that all eight forms are worshipped whenever Goddess Lakshmi is worshipped. Similarly, Shri Modi said that Ashtalakshmi of eight states was present in the Northeast of India namely Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura, and Sikkim. He added that the eight forms of Asthalakshmi are represented in these eight states of the North East. 

Remarking that the first form was Adi Lakshmi, Shri Modi said that the Adi culture is strongly spread in every state of our North East. Noting that every state of North East India celebrated its own tradition and culture, the Prime Minister listed the Cherry Blossom Festival of Meghalaya, the Hornbill Festival of Nagaland, the Orange Festival of Arunachal, Chapchar Kut Festival of Mizoram, Bihu of Assam, Manipuri Dance and added that there was such great diversity in North East India.