PM Modi performs puja at sanctum sanctorum of Kedarnath shrine
After becoming the prime minister in 2014, Narendra Modi has been celebrating Diwali every year with Indian soldiers in different parts of the country.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has arrived in Kedarnath on the occasion of Diwali.The prime minister coffered prayers at the Himalayan shrine and reviewed Kedarpuri reconstruction projects. The foundation stone of Kedarpuri reconstruction projects was laid by Modi during his visit to the temple last year.
Read Also | PM Modi celebrates Diwali with soldiers in Harshil near India-China border
Highlights:
11:50 am: PM Modi leaves Kedarnath.
10:55 am: PM Modi reviewing Kedarpuri reconstruction projects
10:50 am: PM Modi performs parikrama of the shrine after offering prayers.
10:25 am: PM Modi performs puja at Kedarnath shrine.
10:10 am: This PM Modi's third visit to Kedarnath, second in last six months.
10:05 am: PM Modi will stay in Kedarnath for around two hours.
09:55 am: PM Modi arrives in Kedarnath
09:45 am: PM Modi to arrive at Kedarnath shortly
09:15 am: PM Modi leaves for Kedarnath
08:00 am: Army Chief General Bipin Rawat, DG ITBP Deshwal, Army Commander Lt Gen Abhay Krishna accompanying PM Modi
07:45 am: PM Modi meets scout battalion of India Army and 12 BN and 35 Bn of ITBP
07:30 am: PM Modi greets ITBP jawans on Diwali at Harshil border, approximately 50 km from LaC (Line of actual control)
Earlier in the day, PM Modi extended Diwali greetings to the countrymen and wished for their good health and prosperity.
Snowfall in the higher reaches of the mountains of Uttarakhand has enhanced the beauty of the Kedarnath temple and its surroundings.
All preparations have been made in view of the prime minister’s visit with the road from the helipad to the temple totally cleared of snow, Singh said.
Several new features including a meditation cave 400 metres above Kedarnath will greet Modi during his visit this time.
Built at a secluded spot 400 metres above the shrine, the cave will be shown to the prime minister from a distance as he is not scheduled to go there, Rudraprayag District Magistrate Mangesh Ghildiyal said.
Other new features for Modi to see at the shrine this time will be a much wider Mukhya Aksha, the passage from the point of confluence of Mandakini and Saraswati to the facade of the temple and the retaining walls constructed on the banks of the two rivers, the official said.
Kedarpuri reconstruction has been on Modi’s priority list and he keeps monitoring its progress on regular intervals via video conferencing.
It would be his 10th visit to the state after assuming office in 2014.
PM Modi to celebrate Diwali with Army jawans today
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will celebrate Diwali this year with Army Jawans. After becoming the prime minister in 2014, Modi has been celebrating Diwali with Indian soldiers in different parts of the country.
In 2014, he had spent Diwali at Siachen with Army jawans. In 2015, he had visited the Punjab border on Diwali. His visit had coincided with 50 years of the 1965 Indo-Pak war.
The next year, Modi was in Himachal Pradesh, where he spent time with the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) personnel at a border outpost.He had spent his fourth Diwali as prime minister with soldiers at Gurez in Jammu and Kashmir last year.
Watch: PM Modi to visit Kedarnath; celebrate Diwali with Army jawans
Responding to Diwali greetings from Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday , PM Modi said he would celebrate Diwali Wednesday with Army jawans and share pictures of his experience.
"Every year, I visit our border areas and surprise our troops. This year too, will spend Diwali with our brave troops. Spending time with them is special," PM Modi said.
He said he would share the photos of the same Wednesday evening. Modi also thanked Bibi, as Netanyahu is called, for the Diwali wishes.
"On behalf of the people of Israel, I would like to wish my dear friend @narendramodi and the people of India a joyous Diwali. May this luminous festival of lights bring you happiness and prosperity. Reply to this tweet with the name of the city where you're celebrating!," the Israel premier had tweeted.
(With PTI inputs)