South Indian businessman donates gold equal to weight of PM Modi's mother to Kashi temple

VARANASI: A devotee has donated gold equivalent to the weight of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's mother to gold plate the walls of the shrine at the Kashi Vishwanath Temple. Of the 61 kg of gold donated, 37 kg equivalent to the weight of Modi's mother Heeraben will be used to decorate the sanctum sanctorum of the shrine. The rest of the gold will be used on the parts of the dome. The gold was donated by a businessman, who preferred to remain anonymous. Indications are that he is from South India and is a big fan of Narendra Modi.

The Varanasi Divisional Commissioner told the media regarding the gold offering at the temple. About a month and a half ago, a devotee donated gold to the temple. The walls and roof of the Kashi Vishwanath Temple already have been plated with 37 kgs of gold. The Prime Minister, who was attending a rally as part of the UP elections, had visited the temple. Prior to this, the first phase of construction of the shrine had been completed. Temple officials said they had informed Modi that the temple had received gold and had shown him the construction work. The remaining 24 kg of gold bars will be used for the pillars and the rest of the sanctum sanctorum. These works will start only after the Shivratri celebrations.

Experts had earlier rejected plans to plate the temple walls with gold, saying the walls won't be able to bear the weight of it. Recently, the Kashi Vishwanath Temple Corridor was widened and inaugurated. With this, people can perform darshan more easily.