HENB | VARANASI | DEC 12, 2015::  Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe attended the spectacular sunset Ganga Aarti at the fabled Dashashwamedh Ghat here today, marking a new chapter in traditional cultural ties between the two countries.

With full veneration Japanese PM took part in the Holy Hindu Ritual which felt him blessed and delighted. Both the PM offered ‘Arghya’ (ritualistic offerings) to River Ganges and performed Aarti with holy fire made from Cow Ghee and Camphor. The priests put holy sacraments on the foreheads of the two prime attendees and tied holy threads to their wrists.

The Buddhist monks were also present in the Babatpur Airport on the outskirts of the city around 4.30 pm on Saturday.

Elaborate security arrangements were in place at this ancient temple town which was all decked up to welcome Modi and Abe shortly after their summit talks in Delhi.

The two leaders spent some spiritual moments about 45 minutes at the Ghat in Modi’s parliamentary constituency where they watched the Ganga Aarti, an exquisitely choreographed ritual performed daily on the banks of the river.

Modi had earlier said culture and people breathe life into a relationship.

“Our remarkable relationship also has a wonderful human touch. The Kyoto-Varanasi partnership is one of its strong symbols,” he said at a joint media interaction with Modi.