Watch | 'A wonderful coincidence,' PM Modi extends Diwali greetings at National Unity Day parade in Gujarat

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday extended Deepawali greetings while speaking on the occasion of National Unity Day in Gujarat.

The PM said that "a wonderful coincidence happened this year as both the National Unity Day and Deepawali are being celebrated today."

Addressing the National Unity Day parade in Kevadia, Modi said, "This time the National Unity Day has brought a wonderful coincidence. On one hand, today we are celebrating the festival of unity and on the other hand, it is also the festival of Deepawali. Deepawali connects the whole country through lamps, illuminates the whole country and now the festival of Deepawali is also connecting India with the world."

"It is being celebrated as a national festival in many countries. I extend many best wishes of Deepawali to all the Indians living in the country and the world and the well-wishers of India," he added.

Earlier, PM Modi paid floral tributes to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel at the iconic Statue of Unity in Gujarat on the birth anniversary of the country’s first home minister.

Since 2014, Sardar Patel’s birth anniversary has been celebrated on October 31 as ‘Rashtriya Ekta Diwas’, or National Unity Day.

"Country will celebrate Sardar Patel’s 150th birth anniversary for next two years," Modi also said.

“On the birth anniversary of Bharat Ratna Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, I pay my deepest respects to him. The unity and sovereignty of the nation were his utmost priorities in life. His personality and deeds will continue to inspire every generation of our country,” Modi said in a tweet in Hindi.

Modi is on a two-day Gujarat visit from Wednesday. On the first day, he inaugurated and laid foundation stones for projects as well as new tourist attractions worth Rs 284 crore.

Late Wednesday evening, he addressed Officer Trainees from across 16 civil services of India and three civil services of Bhutan who were part of the 99th Common Foundation Course at the Statue of Unity.

(With PTI inputs)