As the first phase of polling has started in Assam on Saturday, the Prime Minister Narendra Modi on early this morning offered prayers at the centuries-old Jeshoreshwari Kali temple in Ishwaripur village in Bangladesh.
He also made an announcement out there that India will soon build a multipurpose community hall for the worshippers.
PM Modi was welcomed with much fanfare in a traditional way upon his arrival at the temple. Besides, he was seen covering his face with a mask. Inside the temple, Modi offered prayers at the Jeshoreshwari temple dedicated to Goddess Kali and sat on the floor while the priest was reciting the religious texts.
"Feeling blessed after praying at the Jeshoreshwari Kali Temple,” Modi tweeted after offering prayers at the temple.
According to Hindu mythology, the Jeshoreshwari temple is one of the 51 'Shakti Peeths' scattered across India and the neighbouring countries.
Meanwhile, Modi is the first foreign head of state to visit the temple, was received by devotees with conch shells.
The Prime Minister offered a gold crown and a red Banarasi saree to the deity. After this, Modi, who arrived in Bangladesh on a two-day visit on Friday, will head to the Orkandi temple in Gopalganj district, where he will also pay tributes at the mausoleum of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in Tungipara.
Orakandi is the holiest place for more than five crore people of the Matua community living in Bangladesh and Indian state of West Bengal.
Meanwhile in Tungipara, the birthplace of Rahman, the Prime Minister will be accompanied by his Bangladeshi counterpart Sheikh Hasina.
This is Modi's first foreign visit after the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic earlier last year. On Friday, he participated in the celebrations of the country's 50th year of liberation from Pakistan.
Modi and Hasina enjoyed the music of legendary classical vocalist Pandit Ajoy Chakravarty at the National Parade Square in Dhaka, along with the President Abdul Hamid, and others.