Prime Minister Narendra Modi has vowed and made the revival of the Kashi Vishwanath temple a reality after 354 years, said Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

Aurangazeb destroyed the temple that stood till then in 1669 after which Ahilya Bai Holkar rebuilt it much later. On his two-day visit to the PM’s constituency last weekend to oversee the preparations for the inauguration of the Kashi corridor project, Adityanath said the last time such a reinstatement of the glory of the shrine had happened when Ahilya Bai Holkar built and rejuvenated the temple, as reported.

And this tale of revival will be taken to people across the ancient city by two teams of 200 men and women, as instructed by the Chief Minister.

In a meeting with officials for the preparations of the inauguration ceremony, Adityanath said a Shri Kashi Vishwanath Dham Yatra will be organised from December 13 to January 14.

Following the inaugural on December 13, Adityanath said every house in Kashi will receive a special prasad on 14,15,16 December.

PM Modi will conduct rituals as per customs in the sanctum sanctorum on the day of inauguration and people of Kashi will undertake special cleaning of their homes on that day and light lamps — which will be communicated to residents soon.

The deadline for the repair and rehaul of roads in all rural as well as urban areas was fixed for November 30, said the CM, while instructing for the beautification and illumination of all ghats of the Ganga and important buildings and monuments for 12-14 December.

He instructed district officials to prepare a digital map of the city. Digital donation facilities will be provided at the temple. Bhajan sessions will be held at every ward by Keerthan Mandalis, who will also be felicitated by the Department of Culture.

Students of the BHU Fine Arts Department will beautify installations at key junctions of the city. Quiz competitions about the development of the city will also be organised, said Adityanath, adding that cultural programmes will be held across the city for a month following the inauguration.