'Maa ne bulaya bete ne nibhaya': PM Modi delivers what he promised to Kashi

Highlights

PM Modi inaugurates Kashi Vishawanath Temple corridor at massive day-long event in Varanasi
The redeveloped temple campus now spreads over a massive area of nearly five lakh square feet
The Rs 339 crore project was one of the dream projects of PM Modi

Kashi Vishawanath Corridor Inauguration: "Na main yahan aaya hoon, na laya gaya hoon...mujhe Maa Ganga ne bulaya hai (Neither I have come here nor have I been brought here, I have been called by Maa Ganga)," Narendra Modi had famously said when he came to Varanasi to file him nomination paper in April 2014. He then promised to transform Varanasi, many believed the BJP's prime ministerial candidate's words were mere poll promise. Six years later, PM Modi delivered on his promise. AS IT HAPPENED

Dressed is saffron, PM offers surya namaskar in Ganga

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was in Varanasi on Monday (December 13, 2021) to inaugurate the newly-constructed Kashi Vishwanath Dham constructed at a cost of around Rs 339 crore. The redeveloped campus is spread over five lakh square feet. The previous temple premises was about 3,000 square feet in area.

PM Modi's historic Kashi visit | IN PICS

Before the grand opening of the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor, PM Modi offered prayers at the Kal Bhairav temple. "Overwhelmed to reach Kashi," PM Modi said in a tweet after visiting the ancient temple. Chants of 'Modi, Modi' and 'Har Har Mahadev' reverberated as PM's convoy travelled through the narrow bylanes of Varanasi.

PM Modi along with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath then travelled in a double-decker boat to Lalita Ghat from Khirkiya Ghat to visit Kashi Vishwanath temple. Dressed in saffron with rudraksha mala around his neck, PM Modi offered surya namaskar standing knee-deep in Ganga. He collected 'Ganga jal' to offer at the revamped Kashi Vishwanath temple.

About Kashi Vishwanath Temple project

The current structure of the old temple was constructed by Maharani Ahilyabai Holkar around 1780, and in the 19th century, Maharaja Ranjit Singh had got it crowned with golden 'shikhar'.

A total of 23 buildings was inaugurated on Monday in the phase one of the project by PM Modi. They will provide a variety of facilities to pilgrims, including 'yatri suvidha kendras', tourist facilitation crntre, vedic kendra, mumukshu bhavan, bhogshala, city museum, viewing gallery, food court among others.