Varanasi (UP), Sep 12 (PTI) Mauritius Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam offered prayers at the Kashi Vishwanath temple along with his wife on the third day of his visit to Varanasi on Friday.
Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel and state Finance and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Suresh Khanna were present with him during the darshan puja, the district administration said in a statement.
The Mauritius Prime Minister is on a state visit to India from September 9 to 16.
On Friday morning, Ramgoolam was given a rousing welcome by the people of Varanasi on his way from Taj hotel to the temple. Strict security arrangements were made along the entire route, the statement said, adding that traffic diversions were put in place wherever necessary.
At the temple, he went to the sanctum sanctorum for shodashopachar puja.
Priest Teknarayan Upadhyay, who performed the puja for the Mauritius Prime Minister, said that he prayed for the prosperity of both the countries, to keep the relationship between the countries strong, and for the welfare of public.
Priest Neeraj Pandey said Ramgoolam was given Baba’s prasad and sandalwood paste was applied on him.
Pandey said Baba’s devotees chanted “Har Har Mahadev” and greeted the Mauritius Prime Minister, which he gracefully accepted.
Governor Anandiben Patel presented a pink-enamelled replica of the temple with GI tag to the Prime Minister, the statement said.
Ramgoolam, upon his arrival in Varanasi on Wednesday, was received by Governor Patel and Minister Khanna.
He also attended the famous Ganga aarti at the Dashashwamedh Ghat in Varanasi on Thursday evening. The aarti was performed by seven priests on the terrace of Ganga Seva Nidhi as the water levels were high in the river, its president Sushant Mishra said. Governor Patel and Minister Khanna welcomed Ramgoolam with an ‘angavastram’ before he joined the rituals.
The visiting dignitary, accompanied by his wife and team, also went on a river cruise in Ganga, taking in the illuminated crescent-shaped ghats of the ancient city, the statement said. PTI COR NAV RUK RUK
Category: Breaking News
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