Modi ate food with construction workers at Varanasi

Story by Aasha Khosa | Posted by Aasha Khosa | Date 13-12-2021

Prime Minister having food with construction workers (Twitter)

Varanasi

In a great gesture, Prime Minister Narendra Modi dinned with construction workers who were involved in the Kashi Vishwanath Dham Corridor project in Varanasi on Monday. Modi eating food with the workers wo wore safety jackets went viral on social media.

Prime Minister also offered prayers to Sant Ravidas in Varanasi after inaugurating the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor project in his Lok Sabha constituency. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also offered his prayers to Sant Ravidas after PM Modi.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday witnessed 'Ganga Aarti' on the banks of the Ganges in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh on the occasion of Shiv Deepotsav being celebrated in the city today.

PM Modi who had boarded the Vivekananda Cruise witnessed the grand spectacle at Ravidas Ghat from aboard the vessel.

Prime Minister shared his experience on Twitter in these words:

Ganga Aarti of Kashi always fills the inner soul with new energy. Today, after fulfilling the big dream of Kashi, attended the Ganga Aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat and bowed down to Maa Ganga for her grace.

He also shared the video of the Ganga Aarti:

काशी की गंगा आरती हमेशा अंतर्मन को नई ऊर्जा से भर देती है।

आज काशी का बड़ा सपना पूरा होने के बाद दशाश्वमेध घाट पर गंगा आरती में शामिल हुआ और मां गंगा को उनकी कृपा के लिए नमन किया।

नमामि गंगे तव पाद पंकजम्। pic.twitter.com/pPnkjmgzxa
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 13, 2021

Priests dressed in traditional attires chanted shlokas as they carried deepams (earthen lamps) and moved in rhythmic motion for the ritual. Modi was seen with folded hands watching the aarti from the cruise vessel.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath was also onboard the cruise accompanying the Prime Minister.

Several thousands of earthen lamps were lit to illuminate the ghat, which was decked with floral arrangements. The water from the Ganges reflected the glittering lights of the diyas and illuminations from the temples and buildings lining the river bank.

PM Modi also took a boat ride from Lalita Ghat to Ravidas Ghat with UP CM Yogi Adityanath after having lunch with the workers involved in the construction work of the Kashi Vishwanath Dham Corridor.

Prime Minister inaugurated phase 1 of the Kashi Vishwanath Dham project at Uttar Pradesh's Varanasi, which has been constructed at a cost of around Rs 339 crore.

A total of 23 buildings will be inaugurated in phase 1 of the project. They will provide a variety of facilities to the pilgrims visiting Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple, including Yatri Suvidha Kendras, Tourist Facilitation Centre, Vedic Kendra, Mumukshu Bhavan, Bhogshala, City Museum, Viewing Gallery, Food Court, among others.

Prime Minister's vision was also to ensure that all heritage structures be preserved during the course of the development of the project. This foresight came in handy when, during the process of destruction of the old properties, more than 40 ancient temples were rediscovered.