Varanasi: Delhi chief minister Rekha Gupta on Saturday offered prayers at the Vindhyavasini Temple in Mirzapur, inspected the Vindhyachal Corridor and later participated in the world-famous Ganga aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat in Varanasi after receiving a grand welcome from BJP functionaries and workers on her arrival at Lal Bahadur Shastri International (LBSI) Airport.Speaking to reporters before leaving for Vindhyachal, Gupta said, “I have come to bow at the feet of Lord Vishwanath and seek blessings for the happiness, peace and prosperity of the people of Delhi. Coming to Kashi has always been a deeply spiritual and divine experience.”BJP functionaries and workers, accompanied by dhol and nagada players, gathered at the airport well before her arrival at around 11.50 am to welcome her. Uttar Pradesh minister Ravindra Jaiswal, BJP Kashi region president Ashok Chaurasiya, district president Ram Sakal Patel, city president Pradeep Agrahari, district panchayat chairperson Aparajita Sonkar, BJP women wing members Namrata Chaurasiya, Ayushi Shrimali, Kusum Patel and Vinita Singh, along with several other party functionaries, welcomed her with chants of “Har Har Mahadev.”From the airport, Gupta travelled by road to the Vindhyavasini Temple, where she offered prayers. She was received by local BJP MLA Ratnakar Mishra and other party leaders. During her visit, she also reviewed the progress of the Vindhyachal Corridor before returning to Varanasi.In the evening, Gupta visited Namo Ghat and boarded a boat for Dashashwamedh Ghat, enjoying the scenic view of the historic ghats along the Ganga. She later attended the Ganga Aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat.Tight security arrangements were put in place throughout Varanasi and Mirzapur in view of the Delhi chief minister’s visit, with enhanced deployment along her travel routes.
