At 6 pm when the President’s cavalcade arrived at Har Ki Pauri, the large number of people there, cheered the President with the chants Ganga maiya ki jai. Earlier, the special flight of MI-14 landed at BHEl stadium at 5.10 pm. From there the President was taken to Dam Kothi. At 6.05 pm, mantra chanting started at Har Ki Pauri and at 6.08 pm, the President arrived. As per the daily routine, the Vedic Arati began at 6.28 pm followed by Rudra Arati at 6.30 pm and the Mukhya arati at 6.35. The priests clad in white dhotis and chadars swayed the alighted lamps of wicks soaked in pure ghee (clarified butter). The President witnessed the seven- minute arati flanked by Governor K K Paul and Chief Minister Harish Rawat. Former CM Ramesh Pokhariyal Nishank was also present. later, the pledge was taken by all present as the President said, “Ham Har ki Pauri Brahmkud par aj ganga maiya ki saugandh letey hain ki ganga ke jal ki pavitrata evan nirmalta banaye rajhney hetu jal ko pradushit nahin karenge”.
