PM Modi performs special prayers at Janaki temple

Janakpur: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday visited the famed Janaki temple in this Nepalese town and performed a special 16-step worship ceremony, becoming the first Indian Prime Minister to hold such a prayer at the 20th century temple.

Mr Modi, who arrived here on Friday on a two-day state visit to Nepal, directly went to the Janaki temple, dedicated to the Hindu goddess Sita, from the airport.

Nepalese Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli welcomed his Indian counterpart upon his arival at the temple complex.

Mr Modi took part in the Shodasopachara Puja at the Janaki temple, local media reported. Devotional bhajans of Sita and Ram was played during the 10-minute long prayer performed by Mr Modi at the temple.

Shodashopachara worship ceremony — with sixteen ritualistic services including tantric mantra recitation — is carried out only by special guests at the Janaki temple. During the ritual, the idol of Goddess Sita is worshipped and decorated with clothes and jewels.

Former Indian Presidents Neelam Sanjiva Reddy, Gyani Zail Singh and Pranab Mukherjee had performed such prayers during their visits to Nepal, temple’s priest Ramatpeshwar Das Vaishnav said.

Mr Modi is the first Indian Prime Minister to hold such a worship ceremony at the temple.

“My long-cherished wish to visit Janakpur dham has come true. It is a memorable experience for me to visit this pilgrimage site which holds a special place in the hearts of people from Nepal and India,” Mr Modi wrote in the visitor’s book at the Janaki temple.

He thanked the Nepal government and the people of Janakpur for their warm welcome and wished them peace, prosperity and happiness.

Thousands of people had gathered in the Janaki temple premises to welcome Mr Modi. Janaki temple got a new look as the temple was cleaned up and decorated with lights.