Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ongoing go to to Varanasi has coincided with the one hundredth anniversary of the then Prince of Wales’ royal go to to the temple city in December 1921, when he too was given a rousing reception and had formally opened new buildings of the Banaras Hindu College.

On December 13, Modi arrived right here within the morning and later inaugurated the primary part of the formidable Kashi Vishwanath Dham undertaking after taking a holy dip in Ganga and providing prayers on the historical Kashi Vishwanath Temple.

In a coincidence of types, precisely 100 years in the past, the then Prince of Wales, who would later grow to be King Edward VIII, had arrived in Benares on December 13, 1921 as a part of his royal tour of India.

The prince had arrived in Bombay (now Mumbai) on November 17 and later visited Bikaner, Bharatpur, Lucknow and Allahabad, earlier than arriving in Benares (now Varanasi) on a single-day go to, in accordance with archival data.

The British royal was accorded a rousing reception and a grand welcome by the Maharaja of Benares at his iconic Ramnagar Palace throughout the river after the prince arrived early morning within the metropolis, famed for its historical temples, particularly the Kashi Vishwanath Temple, which has now assumed a brand new avatar underneath the formidable Kashi Vishwanath Hall undertaking of the federal government.

The royal visitor was acquired on the metropolis station and from there the Prince went off in a automotive to historic Nadesar Home.

Nadesar Home is a heritage property in Varanasi, and presently serving as an expensive lodge, run by the Taj group.

The Maharaja later made a state name on the Prince at Nadesar Home, after which returned the decision by visiting the king at his palace in Ramnagar, a serious vacationer attraction within the metropolis at present.

In accordance with “His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales’ Tour in India 1921-22” printed by the then British authorities in Delhi in 1923, the royal visitor had arrived in Benares within the morning after travelling from Allahabad, the place he attended various occasions on December 12.

Prince Edward had then returned the go to of the Maharaja of Benares, fondly known as by native individuals as ‘Kashi Naresh’, by taking a river route from Nagwa Ghat on the principle metropolis facet, and got here again to the temple city facet taking a motor boat, travelling by way of the Ganga river, amid ceremonial arches, adorned boats floating round including to the festive environment, in accordance with the ebook.

The prince had lunch with the Maharaja of Benares, who provided ‘itr’, ‘paan’ and ‘har’ to the Prince earlier than his departure. Fragrance, betel leaves and marigold garlands have particular significance within the tradition of Benares, which is taken into account the religious capital of India.

By the way, Prime Minister Modi, who was given a princely welcome on his arrival within the historical metropolis on Monday morning, with individuals showering rose petals and adulation and cheering and chanting ‘Har Har Mahadev’ and ‘Modi, Modi’ from balconies, verandahs and roof tops, additionally took a river path to journey throughout the course of his go to.

He took a river cruise to succeed in Lalita Ghat on method to inaugurate Kashi Vishwanath Dham, after which within the night loved spectacular Ganga ‘arti’ and light-weight and sound present on the ghat from the comforts of the cruise, within the firm of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and chief ministers of different BJP-ruled states.

If the Prince was Wales was given a royal 31-gun salute on his arrival and departure from the Maharaja’s palace, the prime minister was honoured with a blinding show of fireworks on the banks of the holy Ganga, whose water, Modi had provided as ‘jalabhishek’ to Lord Shiva within the Kashi Vishwanath temple premises.

From huge murals depicting artwork and cultural heritage of Benares to illumination of a number of buildings close to the Kashi Vishwanath temple web site, Varanasi has additionally been decked as much as welcome Modi, whose go to ends Tuesday night, after which he’s scheduled to return to Delhi.

In accordance with the archival data, Prince Edward on December 13, 1921 had additionally visited the campus of the historic Banaras Hindu College, and was conferred an “honarary diploma of D.Litt.” in a particular convocation ceremony held on the premises of the college, whose basis stone was laid by Lord Hardinge on February 4, 1916. He was additionally provided a conventional Indian turban of gold silk throughout the perform.

The prince, on the event had additionally formally opened the brand new buildings of the college, in accordance with the data.

“The constructing of the Arts Faculty, the Bodily Laboratory, the Energy Home, a number of workshops of the Engineering Faculty, three hostels and a few residential quarters have been all prepared by 1921. The formal opening ceremony of the brand new buildings was carried out on the December 13, 1921, by His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales,” in accordance with web site of the BHU.

“It’s my proud privilege, as Chancellor of the Benares Hindu College, to preside at this vital perform, when the College is honouring itself by conferring its highest diploma on the illustrious Inheritor to the British Throne, and to increase on behalf of the College, which represents in a particular diploma, the entire of Hindu India, a loyal and enthusiastic welcome to Your Royal Highness,” the then Maharaja of Mysore had stated in his tackle on the perform, as quoted within the official tour ebook of 1923.

BHU campus is positioned close to Nagwa Ghat, and Modi’s night cruise which had began from Sant Ravidas Ghat had crossed by Nagwa Ghat as nicely.

The prince had visited India because the British Empire’s ambassador on behalf of his father King George V to thank India for the important function it had performed throughout the First World Conflict. Furthermore, the go to was meant to strengthen bonds between Britain and its Empire at a time of mounting requires India’s independence.

Previous to Edward VIII, Benares has performed host to different British royal friends too, together with the then Prince and Princess of Wales (later King George V and Queen Mary) who visited the town throughout their 1905-6 India tour and likewise stayed at Nadesar Home. And, throughout his royal go to to India in 1876-77, the then Prince of Wales (later King Edward VII) had additionally visited the holy metropolis and likewise laid the muse stone of a hospital which was initially named after him. PTI KND ZMN