West Bengal: On eve of Vivekananda birth anniversary, Modi opts to spend night at Belur Math

HOWRAH: PM Narendra Modi reached Belur Math, the headquarters of Ramakrishna Mission, by a ferry at 8.57 pm on Sat-urday and chose to stay back in a move redolent with symbolism, opting not to make the journey back to the Raj Bhavan where he was supposed to spend the night, a day ahead of Swami Vivekananda’s birth anniversary on January 12.
CM Mamata Banerjee gave a political twist to the PM’s overnight stay at Belur Math.“Some have come from Delhi to bask in the glory of Swamiji. We are not like them. We stay connected with the people throughout the year. We have been observing Yuva Divas from January 10-12 to celebrate Swami Vivekananda’s birthday. Swamiji talked about world humanism. Do you know that there is a mazar inside Dakshineswar temple compound? Swamiji once went to a Muslim household, smoked from his hookah and asserted that he didn’t lose his religion by doing that,” the CM said.
At Belur Math, the PM was received by Swami Suviranandaji, general secretary of Ram-akrishna Mission, and other senior monks. He toured the Math — especially illuminated for the visit — in a battery-operated vehicle and paid his respects to RKM president Maharaj, Swami Smaranandaji. The PM also visited the main temple and paid homage to Ramakrishna Paramhansa and offered prayers. Thereafter, he briefly met senior monks and discussed ways in which Swami Vivekananada’s thoughts and ideas could be used to uplift the country’s youth.
With the PM choosing to stay the night, the Math authorities made arrangements to accommodate him at the guest house on the premises. Senior functionaries said the PM had requested them to make very simple arrangements, a request they honoured. At the guest house, Modi was served ‘prasad’ and ‘bhog’ before he retired for the night.
On Sunday, the PM will visit the main temple early in the morning for mangal aarti — a daily ritual — and then sit in meditation inside the main temple. He will also be served ‘bhog’ and ‘mahaprasad’ that is offered to Shri Ramakrishna. Modi is also scheduled to visit Swami Vivekananada’s room, where he will again meditate and perform yoga, the authorities said. Thereafter, the PM will be taken around for darshan of the different temples within Belur Math, including that of Sarada Ma.
“After darshan, the PM will participate in the birth anniversary celebrations of Swami Vivekananda within the Belur Math premises and will inaugurate a yuva festival on the occasion. The festival will be attended by students of different educational institutions of Ramakrishna Mission,” said Howrah district information officer Sampriti Dutta.