Archive · 16 Aug 2026
PM Modi feeds peacocks, cows in viral morning routine post
India's leader, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has a very busy job.
Every morning, before he starts his day, he feeds his pet peacocks and cows.
He says this is his daily routine and that the animals are his friends.
One morning, he had to leave early to give a big speech.
He said the animals seemed to know and came to meet him before he left.
He shared a video of this special moment on Instagram.
He was wearing a colourful traditional head scarf called a safa.
The speech was for India's Independence Day, which celebrates the country's freedom.
His speech lasted 75 minutes, the shortest he has given in four years.
In the speech, he said the government will provide free online coaching to help students whose families cannot afford expensive coaching classes.
PM Modi shared an Instagram post on 16 August revealing that feeding his pet peacocks and cows every morning is his daily routine.
The post showed the morning before his Independence Day address at the Red Fort, where he offered leaves to cows and grains to peacocks, writing, 'Special, as always!'
He said the animals seemed to realise he was leaving early and came to meet him before his departure.
His outfit featured a bandhani print tie-and-dye safa with a long palla, an off-white kurta-pyjama and a brown sleeveless jacket.
His 75-minute Independence Day speech was his shortest in four years, following a record 103-minute address; he has delivered 13 such speeches since the NDA-led government came to power in 2014.
In the speech he covered artificial intelligence, semiconductors, Naxalism, MSMEs, the concert economy, higher studies and coaching classes, and announced free online coaching for students.
- Who
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi
- What
- Revealed his daily morning routine of feeding pet peacocks and cows and delivered a 75-minute Independence Day speech from the Red Fort, announcing free online coaching for students
- When
- The Instagram post was shared on 16 August about the morning before his Independence Day address; the speech was delivered on 15 August
- Where
- The animals were fed before he left for the Red Fort, where he addressed the nation from the ramparts
- Why
- He described feeding the animals as a daily routine and a 'special' ritual before the address, and his speech announced measures to ease the burden of coaching classes on poor and middle-class families
Supporters
Skeptics
Free online coaching for students
Supporters
The initiative eases the financial burden of coaching classes on poor and middle-class families and makes education more accessible.
Skeptics
Its success will depend on effective execution and adequate infrastructure support, which have not been detailed.
- Leader
- PM Narendra Modi
- Occasion
- Independence Day address from the Red Fort (articles refer to it both as the '80th Independence Day' and as marking '79 years of Independence')
- Morning routine
- Feeding pet peacocks and cows every day before starting his day
- Speech duration
- 75 minutes — shortest in four years; longest was a record 103 minutes
- Speeches since 2014
- 13 Independence Day addresses from the Red Fort
- Key announcements
- Free online coaching for students, a youth AI skills programme, and an appeal to youth to help with the Census
- Outfit
- Deep red headgear with white and yellow details; bandhani print tie-and-dye safa with long tail (palla); off-white kurta-pyjama; brown sleeveless jacket
- Post platform
- Instagram, on 16 August
