Varanasi, 29 April (H.S.):

Prime Minister Narendra Modi captivated thousands during a spectacular 14-km roadshow from Banaras Locomotive Works (BLW) guest house to Kashi Vishwanath Dham on the final day of his two-day Uttar Pradesh visit, as fervent supporters lined the streets with traditional welcomes amid chants of Har Har Mahadev and Jai Shri Ram. The procession traversed key landmarks including Lahartara, Kachahari, Ambedkar Chauraha, Chaukaghat, Teliyabag, Lahurabir, and Maidagin, culminating at the sacred shrine where the Prime Minister offered prayers holding a trident and damru—symbolizing Lord Shiva's divine authority.

BJP leaders described the event as one of Varanasi's largest public receptions, with party workers and residents establishing multiple welcome points along the route, showering rose petals, sounding conch shells, and beating drums in regal homage. Prime Minister Modi, visibly moved by the enthusiasm, repeatedly folded his hands in namaste and waved to the throngs, reinforcing his deep spiritual and political connect with the temple city he represents in Parliament.

At Kashi Vishwanath Temple, the Prime Minister performed elaborate darshan and puja, invoking blessings for national prosperity in the sanctum sanctorum adorned with gold-plated corridors—a transformation he championed since 2014. The visit underscores his ongoing commitment to Kashi's cultural renaissance, following prior initiatives like the temple corridor expansion that drew over 100 million pilgrims annually.

This high-profile roadshow precedes the Prime Minister's scheduled inauguration of the 594-km Ganga Expressway later today in Hardoi, linking 12 districts from Meerut to Prayagraj and poised to revolutionize Uttar Pradesh's connectivity.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath hailed it as a lifeline for economic growth, while the event amplifies BJP's infrastructure narrative ahead of key electoral battles.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar