Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Uttarakhand on Thursday as part of a day-long visit which saw him offering prayers at the Adi Kailash peak and Parvati Kund.
The Prime Minister, in his usual style, stuck to the traditions of the hill state, wearing a traditional tribal outfit complete with a turban and 'ranga' (upper body garment). Guided by local priests Virendra Kutiyal and Gopal Singh, the Prime Minister visited the Shiva-Parvati temple situated along the banks of Parvati Kund in Jolingkong.
Modi performed an 'aarti' and blew the conch shell and sat in meditation briefly with folded hands in front of the Adi Kailash peak.
The Prime Minister also shared photos from the visit. "I am overwhelmed with the darshan and worship at the holy Parvati Kund of Pithoragarh in Uttarakhand. The mind is also happy with the darshan of Adi Kailash from here. From this place of spirituality and culture nestled in the lap of nature, he wished a happy life for all the family members of his country," he wrote on X.
Accompanied by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, Modi also reached Gunji village in Uttarakhand where he interacted with the local people. state. He also attended an exhibition of local products and artefacts. He is also slated to visit the Army, ITBP and BRO personnel at the border .
After his programme at Gunji, Modi will leave for Jageshwar Dham, an ancient temple dedicated to lord Shiva, about 15 km away. After offering puja, parikrama around the jyotirlinga and meditation at Jageshwar Dham, the prime minister will have a lunch consisting of Kumaoni cuisines.
He is slated to inaugurate a slew of development projects in the state worth Rs 4,200 crore. He will also addressg a public meeting at the S S Waldia Sports Stadium.
In a post on X, Modi said, "Our government is committed to the welfare of each and every individual of Devbhoomi Uttarakhand and the state's rapid development. To impart more speed to it, I will inaugurate and lay the foundation stone of several projects in Pithoragarh."
(With PTI inputs)