Kashi greets Macron, Modi with cultural treat, boat ride
VARANASI: The people of Varanasi extended a traditional welcome – replete with the glimpses of Indian culture and religion – to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron as they visited the ghats and enjoyed a boat ride in the Ganga on Monday.
During the boat ride, Modi and Macron, accompanied by UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath, passed through a number of ghats witnessing religious and cultural programmes like Ramlila, discourses, musical and dance performances, and works of art.
As the two leaders reached Asi
ghat in the afternoon, a group of women welcomed them amid the playing of ‘damru’ (pellet drum) and chants of ‘Har Har Mahadav’ – the popular style of welcoming guests in Varanasi.
As many as 121 priests of Varanasi chanted Vedic mantras and blew conch shells while people showered the guests with petals. Macron stopped to have a look at the tableau of Ram Darbar at Asi ghat.
Visibly mesmerised by the traditional welcome, Macron waved at the cheering crowd. Raising both his hands, Modi also accepted the greetings of the people of Kashi.
The two leaders then exchanged a few words and boarded a decorated boat anchored on the banks of the Ganga.
Before getting on the boat,
Modi and Macron looked at the flags of India and France fluttering together.
Seeing the enthusiasm of the people who held national flags of India and France in their hands, Modi and Macron stood up on the boat. Guarded by specially trained commandos, the boat reached the historic Tulsi Ghat where a 50-ft high painting of the two leaders made by local artists had been put up.
The two leaders watched Ramlila, Ram rajyabhishek (anointment of Lord Ram) under the guidance of chief priest of Sankatmochan Temple Prof Vishwambhar Nath Mishra. Recital of the couplets of Ramcharitmanas was also presented. This was followed by a wrestling contest (dangal).
The events at Tulsi ghat were coordinated by Prof Vijay Nath Mishra. Macron also saw the glimpses of Buddhist way of offering prayers at Prabhu ghat.
At Chet Singh ghat, Modi and Macron saw sadhus delivering discourses and performing meditation. As Modi and Macron passed by Kedar ghat, a group of 25 artistes from Mathura performed Mayur dance. Geetanjali Sharma, who led the troupe, said: “It was a great moment to perform before PM Modi and French President Macron. We tried to give our best performance. We hope they liked it.” At Mansarovar ghat, a group of Kabir panthis played ‘ektara’ (a single-stringed instrument) and recited Kabir’s couplets. Artistes of Banaras gharana also gave a Kathak presentation. Children gave cultural performance and presented welcome song at the ghats as the two leaders waved at them. As Modi and Macron reached Dashashwamedh ghat, the French President was informed about the ghat and the famous Ganga aarti. They got off the boat and walked to their cavalcade that left for the hotel. Big hoardings carrying pictures of Modi and Macron with welcome messages were put up across the city.
Earlier in the day, Modi and Macron inaugurated a solar power plant in Dadar Kala village in Mirzapur district. They pressed a button to energise solar panels and dedicate the facility to the people in Mirzapur. Tushar Malik, project manager of French company Engie which has set up the facility, said over the phone that the solar power plant had been set up with an estimated cost of Rs 650 crore.
Modi and Macron also visited Deendayal Upadhyay Hastkala Trade Facilitation Centre (TFC) and crafts museum in Varanasi where theatre artistes performed a special Ramlila.
Macron saw weaving of saree and stoles on handloom and powerloom and also interacted with a few craftsmen and artisans. Earlier, PM Narendra Modi and UP governor Ram Naik and chief minister Yogi Adityanath received Macron and his wife Brigitte at Lal Bahadur Shastri international airport in Varanasi.