VARANASI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who turned 68 on Monday, performed aarti at the Kashi Vishwanath temple during his visit in Uttar Pradesh's Varanasi. In the temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, PM Modi was seen with Uttar Pradesh’s CM Yogi Adityanath. While priests were seen chanting mantras, he was seen holding offerings.

Earlier, he donned the hat of a teacher during his visit to Varanasi, his parliamentary constituency, as he interacted with students at a primary school in Narur village here and gave them tips on life.

Soon after his arrival at the Babatpur airport where he was received by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and senior BJP leaders, he went on a chopper to Dereka from where he drove straight to the primary school and told children that sports is an integral part of development in formative years and that they should "go out and play".

The PM is on a two-day trip to the holy city, he also told the students, who gifted him red roses, that they should not shy away from asking questions as doing so "is a key aspect of learning".

Leaders from across the political spectrum, despite their differences, have wished the PM on his birthday. Congress president Rahul Gandhi wished "good health and happiness" to the PM.  President Ram Nath Kovind took to Twitter and wished a long life to the PM

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) observes the day, September 17, as 'Sewa Diwas' across India with the party leaders organising various welfare programmes like cleanliness drives and blood donation camps.