In a lively moment, Prime Minister Narendra Modi playfully remarked, "Mukhyamantri ji aisa hota rehta hai," to Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah, as the crowd echoed 'Modi-Modi' during the inauguration of the cutting-edge Boeing India Engineering & Technology Center campus in Bengaluru on Friday.
Modi has embraced a unique religious routine lasting 11 days in preparation for the 'Pran Pratishtha' ceremony at the Ram temple, news agency PTI reported citing sources on Friday.
The report said that during this period, Modi has chosen to sleep on a simple blanket on the floor and consume only coconut water. Additionally, he has actively participated in "gau-pooja" (cow worship), fed cows, and undertaken various forms of 'daan' (charitable acts), including 'annadaan' (food distribution) and donating clothing, in accordance with scriptures.
As a dedicated "Ram Bhakt" (devotee of Lord Ram), Modi has recently visited several temples across the country, such as Ramkund and Shree Kalaram Temple in Nasik, Veerbhadra Temple in Lepakshi (Andhra Pradesh), Guruvayur Temple, and Thriprayar Shree Ramaswami Temple in Kerala. His forthcoming visits to temples in Tamil Nadu over the next two days are expected to further strengthen the religious and cultural ties that these sacred places symbolize.
Observers highlight the significance of Modi's temple visits, his engagement with Ramayana in multiple languages, and his participation in bhajans (devotional songs) as extending beyond religious boundaries, impacting the socio-cultural fabric in alignment with his vision of ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat’.
In a notable initiative, PM Modi also spearheaded a temple cleanup campaign, personally cleaning the premises of Shree Kalaram Temple in Nasik, aiming to set an example and inspire a broader public movement.