During his address at the event, PM Modi hailed Bharatiya Janata Party's predecessor, Jan Sangh's good governance model in Udupi, after reciting shlokas from the Bhagwat Gita along with one lakh devotees at the Laksha Kantha Gita Parayana event at Sri Krishna Matha here.

PM Modi recited the Bhagwat Gita in unison with over one lakh participants, including students, monks, scholars, and citizens from various walks of life, during the event.

Addressing the gathering, the prime minister recalled the work of former Karnataka MLA VS Acharya in Udupi.

"Coming to Udupi is very special for me. Udupi has been the karmabhoomi of the Jana Sangh and the Bharatiya Janta Party's model of good governance. In 1968, the people of Udupi elected VS Acharya of the Jana Sangh to the Udupi Municipal Corporation," he said,

"With this, Udupi laid the foundation of a new governance model. The cleanliness drive we are witnessing today was adopted by Udupi five decades ago. Udupi began to develop a model of water supply and drainage system in the 70s," he added.

Modi said that the world witnessed India's "divinity" as one lakh people recited shlokas from the Bhagwat Gita.

"The world has witnessed India's divinity as one lakh people together recited shlokas from the Bhagwat Gita... When one lakh people recited the shlokas and divine words echo in one place, the energy released gives new strength to our minds and bodies. This energy is the power behind spirituality and social unity," the prime minister said.

Drawing a connection between Udupi and Dwarka in Gujarat, PM Modi hailed the founder of the Math, Jagadguru Madhwaachaarya.