Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Varanasi on Tuesday has stirred excitement in the city, with elaborate preparations underway for his two-day tour of Uttar Pradesh. At the revered Ganga ghats in Kashi, women, including many from the Bengali community, gathered to welcome him with traditional rituals. They engaged in ‘shankhnaad’ (conch-blowing), offered prayers to Maa Ganga, and planned a grand reception with flowers and an aarti.
Expressing their enthusiasm, one woman shared, “Today, on the Prime Minister’s arrival, we are performing Maa Ganga aarti and offering aarti for him as part of his grand welcome. We are celebrating joyfully by showering flowers and performing shankhnaad at the ghats.” Another woman highlighted the excitement surrounding upcoming political events, stating, “There is a lot of anticipation, especially regarding Bengal, as we are confident of victory there. His arrival signifies our victory. We are all set to welcome him after two days of preparations.”
In a similar vein, another participant emphasized, “This celebration is for PM Modi, as we are optimistic about winning the elections in Bengal. To mark this happiness, all of us women have gathered in Varanasi to celebrate with great enthusiasm.” Another woman added, “As he is our national leader, his visit has filled us with enthusiasm. We are welcoming him by performing shankhnaad and worshipping Maa Ganga.”
The atmosphere at the ghats mirrored a blend of devotion, festivity, and political hope, as locals and supporters readied themselves to greet the Prime Minister with traditional fervor. PM Modi’s visit to Uttar Pradesh includes launching the Ganga Expressway, participating in a Mahila Sammelan, and laying the foundation stone for projects totaling around Rs 6,350 crore in Varanasi.
In the evening, a Mahila Sammelan will be held in Varanasi, where PM Modi is expected to spotlight women-centric schemes of the double-engine government. The visit will also see the Prime Minister laying the foundation stone for over 112 projects worth approximately Rs 5,300 crore, including sewerage and water supply schemes under AMRUT 2.0, a 500-bed multi-super-speciality hospital, and the construction of market complexes and office spaces in various locations.
Additionally, PM Modi will inaugurate two new Amrit Bharat Express trains: Banaras-Pune (Hadapsar) and Ayodhya-Mumbai (Lokmanya Tilak Terminus).
