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President Kovind visits Vrindavan, offers prayers at Bankey Bihari temple
President Kovind also interacted with the inmates of Krishna Kutir, a government-run shelter home for widows.
President Ram Nath Kovind, along with his wife Savita Kovind, offered prayers at the Bankey Bihari temple in Vrindavan on Monday. The President also interacted with the inmates of Krishna Kutir, a government-run shelter home for widows.
Soon after his arrival in Vrindavan, Kovind accompanied by his wife and daughter visited the Bankey Bihari temple at about 10am and spent about 40 minutes there.
Governor Anandiben Patel and chief minister Yogi Adityanath were with the President during the visit to the temple.
Five widows accompanied President Kovind, whose term ends next month, during prayers at the temple.
“The President offered prayers with devotion and observed all rituals. He sought progress, peace and well-being of the nation,” said Bal Krishna Goswami, the sevayat (priest) who conducted the prayers.
The dignitaries jointly performed the most auspicious “Dehri Pujan” at the temple. After washing the symbolic “Dehri” (doorsill) with rose water, they applied perfume on it and then offered flowers and fruits.
The President and the others lit five earthen lamps on the occasion.
Lanes leading to the Bankey Bihari temple were guarded by 1350 police and Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) personnel.
To tackle the monkey menace in the lanes leading to the temple premises during the high-profile visit, adequate security personnel were deployed in addition to half-a-dozen langurs stationed on rooftops.
The general public’s entry was suspended for the duration of the VVIP visit to the temple.
The puja at the Bankey Bihari temple passed off peacefully, district magistrate Navneet Singh Chahal said, according to a PTI report.
President Kovind later reached Krishna Kutir and met the widows residing here.
These widows are from different parts of the country, many of them from West Bengal.
The President viewed an exhibition of handmade products crafted by the inmates and urged the society to change its perception towards widows.
Kovind interacted with widows at Krishna Kutir and applauded handicraft work done by them.
The President and his family toured the ashram, delaying their departure by half-an-hour. They left at about 1pm.
Elaborate security arrangements were made in Vrindavan for the President’s visit.
Earlier, governor Anandiben Patel and chief minister Yogi Adityanath welcomed the President at a specially prepared helipad near Krishna Kutir in Vrindavan.
Vehicle movement was restricted within Vrindavan for the VVIP visit.
