PM Modi in Varanasi: Ganga aarti onboard a cruise, midnight visit to railway station

Prime Minister Narendra Modi witnessed the spectacular Ganga 'aarti' here on Monday evening while onboard a river cruise with chief ministers of Uttar Pradesh and other BJP-ruled states.

This was the prime minister's third engagement in the holy city after visiting the Kal Bhairav temple and inaugurating the Kashi Vishwanath Dham earlier in the day.

Modi boarded the Swami Vivekananda cruise at Sant Ravidas Ghat to witness the evening 'aarti' on the banks of river Ganga that were illuminated by thousands of diyas.

In a tweet in Hindi, Modi said, "Ganga 'aarti' of Kashi always fills the inner soul with new energy. Today, after fulfilling the big dream of Kashi, (I) attended the Ganga 'aarti' at Dashashwamedh Ghat and bowed before Mother Ganga for her grace." He also shared a short video showing the ghats of Ganga bathed in multi-colour lights.

Thousands of people gathered at various ghats to catch a glimpse of the 'aarti' and the prime minister.

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People cheered and chanted 'Har Har Mahadev' when the cruise halted at the Dashashwamedh Ghat, famous for its daily 'aarti'.

After a day of hectic activity, the PM set out on an inspection of Varanasi railway station after midnight. After 12.30 in the night, PM Modi along with Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath revisited Kashi Vishwanath Temple.

He walked from Godaulia intersection to Kashi Vishwanath Temple. PM Modi also visited Banaras railway station and inspected it. Before that, he took stock of various developmental works