Union Company Affairs minister M Veerappa Moily has said the contribution of Sree Narayana Guru towards social renaissance and upliftment of weaker sections of the society is of eternal appeal and relevance.

Inaugurating the pilgrim summit of 79th Shivagiri pilgrimage at Varkala he said that Mahatma Gandhi's thoughts on religion and God were influenced by the teachings Sree Narayana Guru. Addressing a mammoth gathering of pilgrims from all over Kerala, Overseas Affairs minister Vayalar Ravi said that even after several years of freedom social attitude towards dalits and backward classes is not positive in many parts of the country. He urged to take stepped up efforts to spread the teachings of the greatest social reformer of Kerala among the youth.

Eminent musician V Dakshinamurthy has been honoured in the function. SNDP General Secretary Vellappalli Nateshan, Swami Prakashananda, Members of Parliment and a host of other dignitaries graced the function.
The three day pilgrimage will conclude
tomorrow.