Jharkhand: People line up to welcome PM Narendra Modi on his maiden Babadham visit

RANCHI: The 10km road from airport to Baba Baidyanathdham temple was filled to the brim with people jostling for space to get a glimpse of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday as he held a road show during his 20-minute maiden visit to the temple.
Despite the heat, people, cutting across different age groups, waited for hours. As his carcade snaked through the earmarked routes, chants of ‘Har Har Mahadev’ and ‘Modi, Modi’ filled the air.
At over four dozen spots, scores of women, draped in saris themed on BJP flags and youths wearing t-shirts with PM’s picture showered flowers on his cavalcade. In his trademark style, Modi greeted the public standing atop the footrest of his car while on the move at several places.
Deep Narayan Singh (24) of Sahibganj, was among many enthusiasts who reached Deoghar in the morning. “I and my friend took an overnight bus to watch Modiji,” he said, clinging to a branch of a tree near Ashram Road.
Balram Singh (60) waited for four hours near Bajra Chowk. “‘Pehli baar Modiji aaye hain yahan, bina dekhe kaise rahte’ (He came here for the first time, how can I not see him),” he said.
At 2.20pm, the PM reached the temple, where chief minister Hemant Soren, his cabinet colleague Mithilesh Thakur and temple officials greeted him. Talking to TOI, Prabhas Dhari Jha, temple priest, said the PM stayed inside the temple for 25 minutes. “He performed puja assisted by five priests, including the high priest (Sardar Panda) and his family priest Dinanath Narone. He also offered 51 kg peda as the main prasad (naivedyam), which was prepared especially on this occasion.”