Abe and Modi offers ganga-puja in varanasi

Amidst a unique spiritual atmosphere created in surrounding areas of Dashaswamedh Ghat in the echoes of ghantas and ghariyals, Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe along with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi not only enthusiastically watched internationally famous Ganga-arti but also offered Ganga-puja , amidst chanting of Vedic mantras here on Saturday evening. He also offered Dugdhabhishek at holy river Ganga along with Modi. The pleasant looking Abe himself took out his mobile to snap the shot of rare scene when the entire ghat areas were decorated with flowers and glittered with attractive lighting arrangements.

For the two PMs, special sitting arrangements were made at the ghat and they stayed nearly an hour. In the beginning the president of Ganga Sewa Nidhi Pt Sushant Mishra welcomed them amidst the slogans of traditional ‘Har, Har Mahadev’ and then nine Pandits led by Prof. Chandramauli Upadhyaya of Banaras Hindu University (BHU) helped the two PM to offer Ganga-Puja amidst the chanting of mantras. later, bhajan based on lord Krishna was presented followed by special Ganga-Arti done by nine Pandits and 18 girls. On the occasion, in the specific areas, the guests were presented at the ghat and on the boats while in the adjoining ghats the local people were jam-packed to watch this special Ganga-arti which was even more attractive than those seen on the auspicious occasions of Dev Deepawali.  

It was a rare and memorable scene which was created there through lighting of hundreds of diyas and candles, symbolizing the friendship of India and Japan and cultural closeness between the Hindus and Buddhists. In the entire areas , elaborate security arrangements were made. It was almost 52 years after such occasion came for the city when two heads of the countries visited here together, though heads of different countries often visited here being a leading Buddhist and ancient city. last time, Pt Jawaharlal Nehru came here along with the Queen of England.

Varanasi visit of Abe-Modi is a process of their continuous strengthening relations and a step forward to that of economic ties made at Hyderabad House earlier in Delhi as it has focused on spiritual and cultural closeness, which always stays long. Though Abe could not visit Sarnath, the land of lord Buddha who had given his ‘First Sermon’ after enlightenment at Bodh Gaya more than 2500 years ago, he smelt the fragrance of that while visiting the city through roads covering a long distance where nearly 6500 school children carrying flags of two countries were seen welcoming the two leading leaders of the world. Such rare scene was rarely seen in this mythological city in recent time.

The visit of Abe to Kashi is  an answer to those criticizing the PM Modi since the latter’s visit to Kyoto in Japan in August last year and made an agreement with that Japanese holy city to reshape the infrastructure in his parliamentary constituency. Since then though on many occasions, the delegates from Japan visited here and local officials including Mayor had also visited Japan apart from signing of memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Kyoto University and Banaras Hindu University (BHU), the anti-Modi groups always expressed their doubts over all tall claims but the visit of Abe was enough to keep them silent.     

The tradition of Ganga-Arti was not new for the city but it was given a new colour by late Satyendra Mishra when he under the auspices of Ganga Sewa Nidhi has started organised Ganga-arti at one of the oldest ghats, Dashaswamedh, with a few pundits and number of pandit offering artis has increased on special occasions including Dev Deepawali and as it was done on Saturday in presence of two PMs. 

Earlier, when Abe along with Modi landed at Babatpur Airport , he was welcomed by the governor Ram Naik, chief minister Akhilesh Yadav, along with senior officers including and others including chief secretary, DGP, mayor, commissioner, IG, DIG, DM, SSP, district Panchayat chairman and others. The CM welcomed both te PMs offering them shawls and bouquets. The Japanese PM was welcomed by some artistes playing shehnai and traditional Buddhist instrument and some girls presented welcomed dances. 

later, they left in long motorcade to Hotel Gateway (Taj). The entire parts of the city from where Abe passed through were beautifully and attractively decorated with welcome signboards and cutouts. The city reached standstill since morning as the portion was completely converted into a foolproof secured fort where as the vehicles coming from lucknow side were diverted much earlier before Babatpur. The areas between Airport to Babatpur crossing was decorated with flowers and the crossing was given a new look.