Orange city bathes in saffron glow amid chants of Modi! Modi!

Nagpur: Orange City was bathed in hues of saffron on Sunday as Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid his first visit to RSS Smruti Mandir after assuming office. The historic visit to the Dr Hedgewar Memorial, coinciding with the auspicious occasion of Gudi Padwa, transformed the city into a spectacle of fervour and pride. Chants of ‘Modi! Modi!' echoed across the streets as BJP workers and residents welcomed the Prime Minister with unwavering enthusiasm.
As the prime minister's convoy moved through the streets, saffron flags fluttered high, and the roads were adorned with multiple statues of Lord Ram, adding a divine touch to the celebratory atmosphere. "Nagpur's cultural heritage is so profound and diverse that the PM himself has come to bow, both at RSS Smruti Mandir and Deekshabhoomi," said Anjali Taide, a school teacher.
For many, seeing Modi in person was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Mukesh Kundnani, a cotton merchant, described the overwhelming emotion he felt when the prime minister waved at the crowd. "Until today, I had only seen the prime minister on TV. But today, when he waved at us from his car, I felt an elation I had never experienced before," Kundnani said, his eyes gleaming with pride.
The RSS Smruti Mandir, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid homage to Dr Keshav Baliram Hedgewar, the founder of the RSS, holds immense historical and ideological significance. Modi's gesture was widely seen as a reaffirmation of his unwavering commitment to the core principles of the Sangh.
For Nagpur, the ideological cradle of the RSS, Modi's visit was more than a political event — it felt like a homecoming for a leader deeply rooted in the Sangh's philosophy. Notably, this was Modi's first visit to Smruti Mandir after assuming office, coinciding with his first trip to the city following the BJP's resounding victory in the state assembly polls — a triumph in which the RSS is believed to have played a pivotal role.
Long-time swayamsevaks, many of whom have witnessed Modi's rise from a young pracharak to the nation's highest office, were moved by his gesture of humility and reverence. "For us, Modi's visit is not just political — it is an emotional homecoming. It's as if a son, who had gone out for his studies, has come home," said Parag Saraf, who has been affiliated with the RSS for over two decades now.
The Prime Minister also went on to visit Deekshabhoomi, a landmark for Buddhists, where the ashes of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar have been enshrined. "Modi is the only leader who has truly understood the pulse of the backward communities, and his work in their upliftment is admirable," said Rajesh Madavi, a resident of Ramtek who had travelled to Nagpur just to catch a glimpse of the Prime Minister.
Nagpur's transformation ahead of the visit was equally remarkable. BJP workers, inspired by the occasion, left no stone unturned to decorate the city in saffron. Streets were cleaned, roads were spruced up, and banners welcoming Modi lined the routes leading to the Smruti Mandir. The timing of the visit, coinciding with Gudi Padwa, added to the festive spirit, making the moment all the more memorable.