New Delhi, May 1 -- Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a letter to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on the occasion of Maharashtra Statehood Day, expressed his deep admiration for the state, its people and culture, which he said shaped our nation and society.

In the letter, PM Modi captured the spirit of Maharashtra over the years that has significantly contributed to nation-building through the Bhakti Movement and Varkari Sampraday that "ignited the spirit of social reform" and movements for social justice and the state's blooming economy.

"We all pay homage to a state and a culture that have distinctly shaped our nation and society. Maharashtra is a perennial source of inspiration for our civilisation. This state is a conflu...