India News | Former PM Deve Gowda Offers Prayers at Baba Baidyanath Temple in Jharkhand
Get latest articles and stories on India at LatestLY. Former prime minister H D Deve Gowda prayed at the renowned Baba Baidyanath Temple in Jharkhand's Deoghar district on Monday, officials said.
Ranchi, Jan 6 (PTI) Former prime minister H D Deve Gowda prayed at the renowned Baba Baidyanath Temple in Jharkhand's Deoghar district on Monday, officials said.
The temple, one of the 12 jyotirlingas in India, holds great spiritual significance.
The JD(S) patriarch performed special rituals, including the 'jalabhishek' ceremony, under the guidance of priests who chanted Vedic mantras, according to a statement from Deoghar district administration.
Deoghar deputy commissioner Vishal Sagar presented a memento and an ‘anga vastra' to the former PM as a gesture of respect.
In keeping with protocol for a former PM, strict security arrangements were in place during his visit.
Deve Gowda, who arrived at the temple in a wheelchair due to age-related health issues, said he prayed for the betterment of the country's future.
Speaking to reporters, he also shared his thoughts about other ‘jyotirlingas' across India.
Deve Gowda, who served as PM from June 1, 1996, to April 21, 1997, also visited the Basukinath Temple, another significant spiritual site in the region.
He is scheduled to return to Bengaluru on Tuesday.
(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)