Modi receives warm welcome in Trichy; marks first visit by a PM to Ranganathaswamy Temple

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Tiruchirappalli on Saturday to a warm reception from a large crowd that had gathered along his route. Acknowledging the enthusiastic crowd, the Prime Minister waved to them from his vehicle.

His visit to Tiruchirappalli also included a trip to the renowned Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, where he offered prayers.

He was seen wearing a spotless 'veshti' (dhothi) and an angawastram (a shawl). The PM also took blessings from the temple elephant after feeding it.



The Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, dedicated to Lord Vishnu, holds great significance for worshippers. It is not only one of India's largest temple compounds but also one of the world's most remarkable religious complexes.

The temple is believed to have been built during the Vijayanagara period (1336-1565). Inside the temple, Lord Ranganatha, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu in a reclining pose, is worshipped with deep devotion.

The Prime Minister received a special welcome from the temple's priests, who had written welcome slogans in Sanskrit on the road to announce his arrival.

The Chief Priest of Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, Sundar Bhattar, was elated and expressed his happiness on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's scheduled visit to the temple.

"All devotees of India are very happy that our PM is visiting Srirangam. Lord Ranganatha is also happy about the PM's visit. Our PM cares for everyone's welfare so is Ranganatha, so it's a blessed occasion for Srirangam," news agency ANI quoted Bhattar.

It was the first time a Prime Minister was visiting the temple, he further asserted.

"Before this, no Prime Minister has come to Srirangam, this is the first time a PM is visiting here. We all are very proud of his visit. I cannot express my happiness in words," Bhattar added.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to embark on a visit to several significant temples in Tamil Nadu on January 20-21.

During his tour, he will have the opportunity to listen to scholars reciting verses from the renowned Kamba Ramayanam.

The Prime Minister's first stop will be at the Sri Arulmigu Ramanathaswamy Temple in Rameswaram, where he will arrive at approximately 2 pm. Here, he will partake in the sacred rituals of Darshan and Pooja.

In line with his recent visits to multiple temples, the Prime Minister has made it a tradition to attend Ramayana chanting sessions in various languages, including Marathi, Malayalam, and Telugu.

During his time at the Sri Arulmigu Ramanathaswamy Temple, he will participate in a special program called 'Shri Ramayana Paryana'.

(With inputs from Agencies)