Varanasi
[dropcap color=”#008040″ boxed=”yes” boxed_radius=”8px” class=”” id=””]I[/dropcap]f visiting Japanese Prime Minsiter Shinzo Abe offered India bullet trains and nuclear energy, then his host and counterpart Narendra Modi undertook him on a rare spiritual journey at the bank of Ganga in Varanasi on Saturday evening. Amid Samskrut slokas and Vedic hymns, Modi and Abe witnessed the Ganga aarti ritual, an exquisitely choreographed ritual performed daily, that brought alive the silent river with light and sound and showcased India rich traditional values.
With thousands flocking the historic Dashashwamedh Ghat, the security arrangement had to be at its peak to receive the two leaders who had flown to the Holy city after scripting a new chapter of friendship between the countries by signing a series of agreements in Delhi. Nearly 7,000 security men were pressed into service for the high-profile visit.
The two leaders spent 45-minutes at the occasion during which they offered flowers and a rose garland on the banks of the river.
[dropcap color=”#008040″ boxed=”yes” boxed_radius=”8px” class=”” id=””]H[/dropcap]undreds of army jawans and navy men as well scuba divers were part of the elaborate security arrangement to guard the make-shift stage which has been erected with the help of pontoons on the river bed.
Abe not only meticulously followed the rituals – Ganga pujan, aachaman and sankalp, as described by priests, he also photographed from his personal cell phone the festivities and the Ganga aarti. In between he also chatted with Modi and enquired about the number of ghats and other holy activities in Kashi, an official present told IANS.
Dressed in a black trouser and shirt and a contrasting khaki waistcoat, the 61-year-old allowed the priests performing the Ganga pujan to smear his forehead with a vermilion and sandal-camphor mix paste and even tied a ‘kalawa’ (holy red thread) on his right wrist. The thread, he was told by eminent priest Chandramauli Upadhyaya, was auspicious and meant well for the person sporting it.
[dropcap color=”#008040″ boxed=”yes” boxed_radius=”8px” class=”” id=””]W[/dropcap]hen Abe arrived at the ghat accompanied by Modi, people on adjoining Rajendra Prasad ghat chanted “Har Har Mahadev” (Hail Lord Shiva) and welcomed the duo with applause and sloganeering. The visiting dignitary also made it a point to take off his shoes before performing the rituals. On some occasions, he even followed Modi’s lead when he proceeded with various ‘sanatan dharam’ rituals, which he probably has known through the years. The select lensmen, mostly from Japan, went into frenzy as Abe and Modi performed the aarti in special brass thalis.
Abe animatedly watched the Ganga aarti, performed a group of young men and women of the Ganga Sewa Sansthan. The Ganga aarti is performed at the ghat every evening. Abe also clapped as the aarti began with the blowing of conch shells and trumpets and was followed by chanting of hymns and singing of Sanskrit verses. Modi hummed along as the performers sang “Achyutam keshawan, Krishna Damodaram…”.
Abe even raised his hands in the air as ‘Har Har Mahadev’ was chanted at the end of the aarti. The visiting dignitary was presented a handmade sketch of Modi and Abe by a local artist.
[dropcap color=”#008040″ boxed=”yes” boxed_radius=”8px” class=”” id=””]T[/dropcap]he ghats had been specially decorated with marigolds flown in from Kolkata and lit up with earthen diyas and LED’s. People witnessing the high-profile event took pictures of Abe and Modi on their mobile phones.
With inputs from IANS
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