This Article is From Mar 12, 2018

With Chants of Ramayan, PM, Emmanuel Macron Sail Down Ganga At Varanasi

French President Emmanuel Macron is in India with his wife Brigitte Macron on a four-day visit. Today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi hosted him in Varanasi, his parliamentary constituency

With Chants of Ramayan, PM, Emmanuel Macron Sail Down Ganga At Varanasi

PM Narendra Modi took a boat ride with Emmanuel Macron on Ganga at Varanasi.

Varanasi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today hosted French President Emmanuel Macron on a grand tour of Varanasi, his parliamentary constituency, the highlight of which was a boat ride on the Ganga.

Two years ago, the Prime Minister had accompanied Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on a tour to Varanasi, where the two had performed Ganga aarti -- the traditional puja of the sacred river -- and watched a cultural programme on the banks of the river.

The reception for the 40-year-old French Prime Minister was no less grand - with cultural programmes, Sanskrit slokas, classical music and dances presented along the ghats, some of them hundreds of years old, of India's oldest and holiest town.

Mr Macron - who had reached Delhi on Friday on a four-day visit with his wife Brigitte Macron - landed in Varanasi this morning on a special plane. At Assi ghat, he was given a traditional welcome, complete with garlands and a Shehnai recital before he boarded a flower-decked boat named "Bajra".

Besides PM Modi, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also accompanied him for the 20-minute ride to the famed Dashashwamedh ghat, said to have been created by Lord Brahma.

Along the way, the various ghats were a riot of colours and music, with artistes holding various programmes: A recitation of Ramcharitmanas at Tulsi Ghat -- the Ramayana of 16th Century poet Tulsidas after whom the ghat was named; an enactment of the first sermon by Lord Buddha at Prabhu and Chetsingh ghats.

Ash-smeared Naga sadhus were present at Akhada Sri Niranjini Ghat. At Mansarovar Ghat, a recital of the couplets of Sant Kabir - a 15th Century saint ad mystic poet -- was on. At Pandey and Chausatti ghats, artistes performed kathak according to Banaras gharana - one of the three eminent styles of the ancient dance form -- to classical instrumental music.

The steps of the ghats were decorated with alpanas - traditional floral motifs in coloured powder and flower petals.

In the morning, PM Modi and Mr Macron had visited Mirzapur to inaugurate a 100-megawatt solar plant built by the French company Engie. Later, they came back to Varanasi to visit a handicrafts centre to watch weavers at work on the famed Banaras silk sarees and the carpets of Bhadohi.

They also watched "Chitrakoot" - a play based on Ramcharitmanas staged in the open auditorium that portrayed the life of Lord Ram during his 14-year exile.

After the boat ride, the two leaders had a private lunch. Mr Macron then flew back to Delhi as the Prime Minister stayed on to address a public rally.

(With PTI inputs)
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