Kolkata, May 28 (IANS) West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Thursday performed puja rituals at the ISKCON temple in Mayapur, located in Nadia district.

On arrival at the temple premises on Thursday afternoon, he was received by ISKCON monks, who welcomed him with garlands.

He participated in special rituals in the temple. Later, the Chief Minister visited the cowshed within the ISKCON complex and performed a special Gau-Seva (service to cows) there in the presence of the monks.

He washed the cows’ feet there with water and also fed them in the presence of ISKCON monks. He then proceeded to ISKCON’s Chandrodaya temple and offered prayers before the Radha-Krishna idols.

Adhikari also paid homage to ISKCON founder Abhay Charanaravinda Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada by performing rituals at his temple and offering floral tributes to his statue.

Tight security was put in place at the temple premises in view of Adhikari’s visit. However, no inconvenience was caused to any devotee coming to the temple.

The ISKCON monks presented the Chief Minister with a statue of Gaumata. He is also scheduled to hold discussions with the monks later in the day.

“This is his first visit to our temple after he took the oath as the Chief Minister. He performed all the Puja rituals within the temple as per tradition. Later, he will engage himself in an ‘exchange of thought’ with the ISKCON monks. The Chief Minister is really very interested in the functioning of ISKCON,” said the ISKCON spokesman, Rasik Gauranga Das

Just two days ago, CM Adhikari had said that no liquor shops will be allowed within 1 km of educational institutes and temples. He also announced that ‘maach-bhaat’ (fish and rice) will be available in 400 canteens across the State for Rs 5.

–IANS

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