Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who came on a three-day visit to India, attends Ganga Harati program at Dashashwamedh Ghat, Banaras on Saturday evening accompanied by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. They also take part in Ganga Harati. They spent there for nearly 45 minutes. They watched the Ganga Harati program from a make shift platform erected in the river. The Ghat has been richly decorated with flowers. The ritual goes very well with the holy chanting of slokas praising River Ganga and Lord Shiva.

The Ghat which is generally over crowded with pilgrims wears a different looks today during their visit. More than 7, 000 security personal were deployed, dozens of police vehicles and Prime Minister’s convoy filled up entire area leading to the Ghat. Besides, the Army and the Navy personals, dozens of scuba divers of the National Disaster Response Force were also deployed as a precautionary measure. Special protection Group, National Security Guard, Anti-Terrorist Squad, Central Para Military Forces and the state police have been camping in the city since last one week to make sure no disturbance in VVIPs brief visit.

Kyoto Company of Japan is assigned to develop the holy city into a smart city. An MoU for this purpose was signed in the last year when Prime Minister Narendra Modi visits Japan last year. “Our remarkable relationship also has a wonderful human touch. The Kyoto-Varanasi partnership is one of its strong symbols,” said Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in a joint press meet with Modi.