Prez witnesses Ganga Arti in Kashi
President Ram Nath Kovind watching the famed Ganga Arti at Dashashwamedh ghat in Varanasi on Saturday. Also seen are governor Anandiben Patel and CM Yogi Adityanath. The President, who is on a three-day tour of eastern UP, also offered prayers to Lord Shiva at Kashi Vishwanath temple.
VARANASI: Amid spiritual fervour and sound of bells and conch shells reverberating in the air, President Ramnath Kovind and his family members, including his wife Savita Kovind and daughter Swati Kovind, watched Ganga Arti at Dashashwamedh ghat here on Saturday evening. Prior to this, Kovind offered prayers to Lord Shiva at Kashi Vishwanath temple and also saw the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor project.
Nine ‘archaks’ (priests) performed the Ganga Arti during which 18 little girls remained present as Riddhi Siddhi.
The President, who is on a three-day tour of eastern UP, arrived at Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport on Saturday afternoon. Governor Anandiben Patel and chief minister Yogi Adityanath welcomed him. Then the President boarded a helicopter and reached BLW.
District magistrate Kaushalraj Sharma and other senior officials received the President there. Later, his cavalcade reached the BLW guest house where the President will stay at night.
From BLW, the President along with his wife and daughter reached Kashi Vishwanath temple and offered prayers to Baba Kashi Vishwanath.
He also saw the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor. Chief minister Yogi Adityanath informed him about the KV project and construction work completed so far.
From the KV Corridor, the President and his family reached Dashashwamedh Ghat to watch Ganga Arti.
Sushant Mishra, chief of Ganga Sevanidhi which organises the daily Arti and trustee Shyam Lal Singh welcomed the President with a memento.
The President, Governor Anandiben Patel and chief minister Yogi Adityanath watched the Ganga Arti from a well decorated platform at the ghat where red carpets were rolled out.
The President will stay in Varanasi for two nights.
On Sunday, he will visit Chapki in Sonbhadra district where he will grace the Vanvasi Samagam and inaugurate the newly constructed building of Seva Kunj Ashram.
On Monday , the President will grace the inaugural session of a programme on issues of Ganga, environment and the culture of India.
‘Corridor to take grand shape’
President Ramnath Kovind said that a grand swaroop (appearance) (of Kashi Vishwanath corridor) will be seen here in near future.
The President also inquired about different types of buildings on the map. Divisional Commissioner Deepak Agrawal informed the President that the temple of Baba Kashi Vishwanath was at a distance of about 350 metres from the Ganga.