: Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu on Wednesday called for celebration of India's cultural diversity through enhanced exchanges between people in the country.
Participating in a function here, he said mutual understanding and trust have always been the foundation of India's strength.
"For this to happen, we must open our doors and our hearts to people of all faiths, cultures and regions", Naidu said after presenting the Hamsadhwani Thyagaraja Award to violin maestro M Chandrasekharan.
Citizens should feel culturally integrated in all corners of India, he added.
"We need this sense of understanding especially now, when a large number of rifts threaten to divide us and fragment the bonds of socio-cultural cohesion," he said.
"Our cultural diversity is a delight and must always be celebrated through enhanced exchanges and reciprocity between people of different States and Union territories," he added.
Noting that India is famous for its 'splendid' culture in which different religions, races, communities, sail in one ship, he said, "our culture and values are our identity and it is what makes unique."