Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Varanasi to inaugurate the Kashi Vishwanath Temple Corridor project has grabbed many eyeballs. From showering petals on the construction workers to donning a turban gifted by a Varanasi local, the Prime Minister ensured that his visit to his Lok Sabha constituency a few weeks before the UP assembly elections was a historic, unforgettable one. The visit was also replete with political statements; from breaking bread with the contruction workers, to that dip in the freezing waters of the Ganga.
Here are 8 striking moments from his Varanasi visit, captured on camera:
1. PM MODI MEETS CONTRUCTION WORKERS
#WATCH | PM Narendra Modi interacts with the workers who constructed the newly-inaugurated Kashi Vishwanath Dham corridor, in Varanasi. pic.twitter.com/xRROKsC4iK
— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) December 13, 2021
2. PM MODI SHOWERS PETALS ON CONSTRUCTION WORKERS
Photo: PTI
श्रमेव जयते!अद्भुत, अद्वितीय, अकल्पनीय क्षणपीएम @narendramodi ने 'श्री काशी विश्वनाथ धाम' में श्रम साधकों पर पुष्प वर्षा करके सम्मान किया। #KashiVishwanathDham pic.twitter.com/NdbDNsUUNW
— BJP (@BJP4India) December 13, 2021
3. PM MODI HAS FOOD WITH CONSTRUCTION WORKERS
Photo: PTI
Photo: PTI
#WATCH | Varanasi: PM Narendra Modi along with CM Yogi Adityanath had lunch with the workers involved in construction work of Kashi Vishwanath Dham Corridor. pic.twitter.com/XAX371ThEw
— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) December 13, 2021
All through Day 1 of his visit, the Prime Minister ensured that the focus was on his interaction with the construction workers who made the temple corridor reality.
"Behind the success of the Shri Kashi Vishwanath Dham project is the hard work of countless individuals. During today's programme I had the opportunity to honour them and have lunch with them. My Pranams to these proud children of Bharat Mata!" wrote the PM in a tweet.
4. MODI TAKES A DIP IN GANGA
Photo: Instagram/Narendra Modi
Photo: Instagram/Narendra Modi
#WATCH | PM Narendra Modi offers prayers, takes a holy dip in Ganga river in VaranasiThe PM is scheduled to visit Kashi Vishwanath Temple and inaugurate the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor project later today(Video: DD) pic.twitter.com/esu5Y6EFEg
— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) December 13, 2021
PM Modi also took a dip in the freezing waters of the Ganga, even as thousands of people watched from the banks of the river. Clad in saffron, the Prime Minister offered his prayers.
5. PM MODI WEARS A TURBAN GIFTED BY HIS SUPPORTER
#WATCH | Locals gave a rousing welcome to PM Narendra Modi, showering flower petals and raising slogans of 'Modi, Modi' & 'Har Har Mahadev' in his parliamentary constituency VaranasiThe PM is on a two-day visit to the city to inaugurate Kashi Vishwanath Corridor project pic.twitter.com/155VrYjEpT
— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) December 13, 2021
On his way to the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor project, the Prime Minister was welcomed by a local with a turban. PM Modi accepted the gift, and wore the turban.
6. PM MODI DITCHES HIS CHAIR TO SIT WITH THE CONSTRUCTION WORKERS
Photo: PTI
During the inauguration ceremony, the PM ditched his chair to sit on the stairs with the construction workers, a political statement that is sure to send out a signal.
PM removes the Chair and sits with the construction workers as one among them. This is what makes @narendramodi ji different from all other leaders in current time.❤?#KashiVishwanathCorridor #KashiVishwanathDham #NarendraModi pic.twitter.com/wpypAu3Ml1
— PIYU$H K Speaks (@SpeaksKshatriya) December 13, 2021
7. UP CM YOGI ADITYANATH PRESENTS A MODEL OF KASHI VISHWANATH TEMPLE
Photo: PTI
8. THE PM INAUGURATES PHASE 1 OF KASHI VISHWANATH DHAM PROJECT
The PM inaugurated Phase 1 of the Kashi Vishwanath Temple Corridor project in Varanasi today. Phase 1 is estimated to cost Rs 339 crore.
Photo: PTI