Narendra Modi, who visited his birthplace Vadnagar for the first time after he became the Prime Minister of India in May 2014, received grand welcome as people of the tiny town left no stone unturned to celebrate his maiden visit the city.
Thousands of people thronged to greet the son-of-the-soil all along both sides of his 5-km long roadshow. The entire town was decorated like a bride. As he entered in Vadnagar, he was greeted by shower of flowers, music and dance as if Diwali came 11 days ahead of its time.
Banners and hoarding depicting the story of his journey Vadnagar to Delhi were visible on important landmarks. Some of the banners were eye-catching telling the success stories of demonetisation and implementation of GST.
His Alma matter BN High School and his father’s tea-stall at Vadnagar Railway Station where he used to serve tea to passengers as young boy was decorated and decked up with colorful lights. The Sharmistha lake where Modi saved his friend from drowning and caught a baby crocodile too was decked up. Entire story of his bravery was displayed near the lake in graphic format.
Modi too became emotional saying that he felt special seeing the kind of reception given by the people of his home-town. “Whatever I am today is because of values I learnt on this holy soil, from the people of Vadnagar,” he responded.
During the roadshow, he broke all the security protocols and stepped down to accept greetings of the people. As he arrived to Vadnagar, he bow-down before his motherland in total reverence. He also performed prayer at ancieont Hatkeshwar Temple of lord Shiva. Modi became nostalgic as his cavalcade reached near his school BN High School and applied himself ‘tilak’ of soil there.
With population of around 30,000, Vadnagar has emerged as tourist destination after Modi elevated from Gujarat Chief Minister to the Prime Minister. His ancestral house, Sharmistha lake, his school, railway station and famous Sun Temple of Modhera situated around 60 km from here are being throng by large number of tourists.