After completing a vigorous 2-month-long election campaign across the country, Prime Minister Narendra Modi embarked on a 45-hour meditation session at the eminent Vivekananda Rock Memorial in Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu, on Thursday evening.
PM Modi reached Thiruvananthapuram by helicopter and offered his prayers at the Bhagavathi Amman Temple. Later, he traveled to the Rock Memorial by ferry to begin his meditation, which will continue until June 1. Modi adorned a white dhoti and shawl while worshipping and performing a circumambulation of the 'garbhagriha'.
A special 'arthi' ceremony was conducted by the temple priests. Modi received a shawl and a framed picture of the temple's deity as the 'prasad'.
Before starting his meditation, Modi stood on the stairs, taking in the divine view of the sea and the memorial. In 2019, PM Modi visited Kedarnath to reflect and meditate amid the Lok Sabha polls. This time, he has chosen the memorial where Swami Vivekananda meditated in late 1892.
The Prime Minister offered flower petals at the Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, Sri Sarada Devi portraits, and a life-size statue of Swami Vivekananda on the pedestal at the mandapam. Heavy security and other arrangements are made for the Prime Minister's 45-hour meditation in the memorial.