India’s Modi opens 1 phase of mega project in holy town of Varanasi with a big splash

Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh:  India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday took a dip in the sacred Ganges River before a crowd of thousands, as he opened part of a large-scale development project in the holy city of Varanasi.

The highlight of the opening ceremony was a Rs339 crore ($45 million) corridor meant to facilitate pilgrims’ visits to some of India’s holiest sites. The corridor connects the river where pilgrims bathe, with the centuries-old Vishwanath temple.

“Today history has been created by reviving the socio-cultural history of this ancient city, which is vibrant with Hindu philosophy as enshrined in our religious books,” Modi said at the lavish opening event.

Modi called on Indians to make three resolutions for the sake of the country: Swachhta (cleanliness), Srijan (creation) and continuous efforts for Aatmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India).

Modi said: “I want three resolutions from you, not for yourself, but for our country - Swachhta, Srijan and continuous efforts for AatmaNirbhar Bharat.”

Stressing on the need for cleanliness, the Prime Minister said: “Swachta is a lifestyle, Swatcha is discipline. No matter how much India achieves, it will always be difficult to lead the way if we don’t unite to attain Swachhta.”

He said that today “new India” is regaining its past glory. “Today’s new India is showcasing to the world that when 1.3 billion people come together, nothing is impossible,” he said.

Terming the inauguration of Kashi Vishwanath Dham as a “decisive direction” to India’s brighter future ahead, Modi said, “It shows the ‘Seva’ (service) and ‘Kartavya’ (duty) of Indians, who just need to have the determination to achieve anything.”

Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has been keen to consolidate its support ahead of next year’s polls in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, where Varanasi is located. Modi’s far-right party currently holds power in the state — India’s largest with 230 million people — but is under immense pressure over its response to the pandemic and the struggling economy.

Varanasi, the most revered city for Hindus, is also the parliamentary constituency of Modi.

Called the Shri Kashi Vishwanath Dham, the mega-project was first commissioned in 2019 and built to create easy access between the temple and the river - both iconic sites for pilgrims, who often wade into the Ganges before offering the holy water at the temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, the god of destruction. Covering about 500,000 square feet, the project also includes 23 buildings and 27 temples.

On Sunday, the city was decked out ahead of the event with colorful lights adorning roads, buildings and the steps leading into the great river. Big LED screens were also put up in the city center for people to watch the event live.

“I could have stayed back and witnessed the function from home. But then, I would have missed this festivity,’’ Manoranjan Sinha, a resident of the city said, gesturing to large crowds around him that were shouting religious slogans and hailing Modi.

Politics was also on display as several of the BJP’s senior leaders traveled to the state and offered prayers across various temples.

“The BJP government has fulfilled its promise made to the people as it has restored the pristine glory of the temple. Every Hindu across India must be proud of it,’’ cheered Yogi Adityanath, chief minister of the state and a Hindu monk.

Authorities demolished nearly 300 commercial and residential buildings to make way for the new promenade. Residents whose homes were knocked down were relocated and compensated.

The corridor is one among a string of big-ticket religious projects announced by the BJP in recent years.