Narendra Modi offers prayers at Kashi Vishwanath temple

Narendra Modi took out a road show in the city as thousands lined up the route, chanted pro-Modi slogans.

Varanasi, March 4: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday offered several litres of milk, Ganga jal and flowers at the fabled Kashi Vishwanath temple here and performed aarti at the sanctum sanctorum during a break in his road show.

Amid tight security, the Prime Minister reached the temple at around 1:30 p.m. and paid obeisance to Lord Shiva, the presiding deity of Varanasi. Prayers were conducted by five priests headed by Acharya Ashok Dwivedi, a source informed IANS.

After offering milk, Ganga jal, flowers, chandan and janeyu, the Prime Minister performed aarti. The priests then smeared Modi's forehead with chandan and vermillion, as a symbol of blessings of the Lord Kashi Vishwanath. He was also given some prasad by the management of the temple.

He later left for the Kaal Bhairav temple, which is considered to be a very holy place in the temple town. Kaal Bhairav is considered by devotees as the 'shah kotwal' and it is believed that a trip to Varanasi is incomplete without a visit to this temple.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi soon after his resounding victory in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections had visited the Kashi Vishwanath temple but skipped Kaal Bhairav temple.

Earlier, the Prime Minister took out a road show in the city as thousands lined up the route, chanted pro-Modi slogans and showered marigold petals on his entourage. The SPG personnel surrounding the Prime Minister had a tough time controlling the milling crowds who tried to come close as he stood up through the sunroof of a bulletproof SUV.

IANS