Varanasi: Cheered on by a massive crowd, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a mega road show in Varanasi, a day before he is to file his nomination papers. Dressed for the occasion in a saffron kurta and ‘angavastram,’ he waved at thousands who were patiently waiting in the balconies and on rooftops, even though the road show started almost two hours late. He started his journey from the Banaras Hindu University, where he paid homage to the statue of Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya.
The seven-km-long roadshow, which went past ancient temples and ghats, took two-and-a-half hours before it finally culminated at the holiest ghats of them all — the Dashashwamedh. Here, the PM attended the ‘Ganga aarti,’ which is held at 6.50 pm daily but on Thursday it was held almost an hour behind schedule.
Top BJP leaders, including party president Amit Shah, top Union Ministers & Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, accompanied Modi as the convoy moved though the holy town. Ramlila artistes from one of the city’s oldest troupes, the Mauni Baba Ram Lila Committee which is 522 years old, accompanied the convoy.
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Its manager Vikram Bhardwaj said, “Lord Ram’s Sena is with PM Modi,” pointing towards actors dressed as Hanuman, Angad, Nal and Neel — the monkey army from the epic Ramayana. Slogans like “Modi pure hai, baaki sab chor hai” and “Har jagah Modi ka danka, haar gayi Priyanka” rang out as rose petals were showered on the Prime Minister.
He was welcomed with flower petals by Muslims supporters as the convoy passed through Madanpura area — a minority pocket. The BJP legend, ‘Mai Bhi Chowkidar,’ was seen inscribed at Dashashwamedh Ghat, which was decorated with lights. Over six lakh people attended the Aarti.