Prime Minister Narendra Modi took a dip in the Sangam on Sunday after offering prayers at the ongoing Kumbh Mela at Prayagraj.
Accompanied by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, the PM was seen performing the aarti and the ceremonial puja on the occasion.
“Had the good fortune of taking a holy dip at the #Kumbh. Prayed for the well being of 130 Crore Indians,” the PM wrote on Twitter while posting a video showing him taking the dip at the Triveni Sangam, the confluence of rivers Ganga, Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati.
Had the good fortune of taking a holy dip at the #Kumbh. Prayed for the well being of 130 Crore Indians. pic.twitter.com/jTI2QbmWxb
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 24, 2019
After the completion of the rituals, the PM also washed the feet of sanitation workers in Prayagraj.
प्रधानमंत्री श्री @narendramodi ने प्रयागराज कुम्भ में स्वच्छाग्रहियों के सम्मान में उनके चरण धोए। pic.twitter.com/x39u8JgyVe
— BJP (@BJP4India) February 24, 2019
He also participated in Swachh Kumbh Swachh Aabhaar event and interacted with the “Safai Karmacharis”. At the event, the PM distributed Swachh Kumbh Swachh Aabhaar awards to safai karmacharis, swachhagrahis, police personnel, and naviks.
“The Swacchaagrahis here are quietly doing their work. I keep getting updates of the hard work done by these Karmayogis in Delhi,” he said.
The PM said that India is moving towards becoming an open-defecation free country before Mahatma Gandhi’s 150th birth anniversary on 2 October this year.
“I believe that Swacchagrahis at Prayagraj are serving as an inspiration for the entire nation,” he said.
Praising the clean Ganga mission, the PM said that 32 nallahs flowing into the Ganga at Prayagraj have been closed. He added that the polluted water went through the sewer-treatment plant before flowing into the river.
The PM said that he has never seen a cleaner Ganga at the Prayagraj and credited it to the government’s clean Ganga mission.
“Even the Ramayana is incomplete without the navik,” the PM said in praise of the boatmen.
He also praised the organisers for the effective management of the Kumbh Mela area where around 22 crore devotees have visited so far.
The Swachh Kumbh Swachh Aabhaar event is being organized by the Ministry of Drinking Water & Sanitation. The Kumbh Mela commenced on January 15 (Makar Sankranti) and will conclude on March 4 (Mahashivratri).
Over a period of 49 days of the mega celebration, more than 22 crore devotees have visited the Kumbh Mela.