Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said that a “New India” is focusing on retrieving past glory while also modernising the country. He said this while inaugurating the 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.
While addressing the inauguration, the PM said, “The Kashi Vishwanath temple premises, which was only around 3,000 square feet, has now become about 5 lakh square feet. Now, 50,000 to 75,000 devotees can come to visit the temple and its premises. Today, a new chapter is being written in the history of Kashi Vishwanath. Kashi Vishwanath Dham premises are not just a grand ‘Bhavan’, but a symbol of India’s ‘Sanatan’ culture and traditions…I would also like to express my gratitude towards every labourer who has worked for the construction of this grand complex. Even during Covid-19, the work didn’t stop here.”
He also added, “I want three resolutions from you, not for yourself, but for our country—cleanliness, creation, innovation and continuous efforts to create a self-reliant India.” The Prime Minister said that today’s India is focusing both on retrieving the glory of the nation and modernizing the country. The Prime Minister added, “Today’s new India is not only constructing the temple at Ayodhya but also constructing Medical Colleges in every district. Today’s new India is not only renovating Kashi Vishwanath Dham but also building pukka houses for our poor. Today’s India not only beautifies the Somnath temple but is also laying optical fibres in the sea. Today’s India is not only renovating the Baba Kedarnath temple but is excelling in the space projects. No matter how big the challenge is, we Indians know how to defeat it.”
The PM also said that Kashi is “imperishable” and a “class-apart” and said that even though it has witnessed destruction, it has also witnessed the valour of brave warriors. The PM Modi said, “Kashi has always been class-apart. Even though it has witnessed destruction by someone like Aurangzeb, it also witnessed the valour of leaders like Shivaji and Ahilya Bai Holkar. Kashi is imperishable. Only one government exists in Kashi, it is the government of those who have damru in their hands,” he added.
“If any Salar Masood moves here, then brave warriors like King Suheldev make him feel the power of our unity,” he said. Calling Kashi a “centre of devotion”, PM Modi said, “Kashi is the place where Goswami Tulsidas ji wrote Ramcharitmanas, with the inspiration of Lord Shiva. The realization of Lord Buddha happened here. Sages like Kabirdas lived here. Kashi became the centre of devotion.”
“From the integrity of King Harishchandra to the knowledge of Vallabhacharya, Ramanand ji. There are many sages and acharyas rooted in this holy land of Kashi,” he added.
Before inaugurating the project, in his Lok Sabha constituency, the Prime Minister greeted the labourers who were involved in the construction of the project with flowers. PM Modi offered prayers at the Kashi Vishwanath Temple and planted a Rudraksha tree on the temple premises.
Wearing the traditional attire of dhoti-kurta, the PM entered Kashi Vishwanath temple to offer prayers, while devotional singer Hansraj Raghuvanshi sang “Mahadev” and the PM performed the rituals inside the temple premises. The Prime Minister, who is in his Lok Sabha constituency for two days, offered “Ganga jal”, chandan, ashes and milk to Lord Shiva at the Kashi Vishwanath Temple. He arrived at the temple on the Alaknanda cruise, a double-decker boat and took a holy dip in the River Ganga. On his arrival in the city, the Prime Minister offered prayers at Kaal Bhairav Temple.
After performing the rituals, the PM started his speech with the chant of “Har Har Mahadev.”
Later, in the evening, PM Modi witnessed the “Ganga Aarti” on the banks of the Ganges in Varanasi. PM Modi who had boarded the Vivekananda Cruise witnessed the grand spectacle at Ravidas Ghat from aboard the vessel. Priests dressed in traditional attires chanted shlokas as they carried deepams (earthen lamps) and moved in rhythmic motion for the ritual. WITH AGENCY INPUTS