After Narendra Modi, Sonia Gandhi, it's Hamid Ansari's turn

Sivagiri: Vice-President Hamid Ansari on Wednesday visited Sivagiri, the abode of the late Sree Narayana Guru, which has emerged as one of the  most favoured political pilgrimage centres in Kerala.

He was  the third VIP to visit the mutt in the past one month after Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress president Sonia Gandhi.

Mr. Ansari,  who  spent some 22 minutes with the Sivagiri Mutt swamis, expressed his happiness over his visit to Sivagiri.

He  reached Sivagiri at 11.20 a.m. along with Minister for Food and Civil Supplies Anoop Jacob in a helicopter. He was welcomed by the Mutt and district administration authorities at the Varkala helipad. Mr. Ansari  offered prayers before the Maha Samadhi of Guru and  a jasmine garland before the Siva idol at Sivagiri.

The renovated stone stairs from Sarada Mutt to Maha Samadhi were inaugurated by the Vice-President. He also found time to plant an Elanji tree (bullet wood) near Vaidika Mutt where Sree Narayana Dharma Sanghom Trust president Swami Prakashananda welcomed him.

Mr. Ansari offered  prayers before the 'kedavilakku' and  enquired about the picture and plaque kept at Sivagiri coinciding with the visit of Rabindranath Tagore.  He  was impressed with the way Sivagiri Mutt has evolved over the years to a pilgrim place of international reputation.

Mr. Ansari  inaugurated the centenary celebrations of Darshanamala written in 1916, Gurusthavam written by Kumaranasan on  Guru's 60th birthday, Guru's ‘Namukku jaathiilla, Vilambaram,’ and also launched the new building of Sivagiri Sree Narayana  Senior Higher Secondary School.

Mr. Ansari was scheduled to visit Sivagiri on December  31 coinciding with the second day of the 83rd annual pilgrimage, but it was postponed.  By 11.47 a.m, Mr. Ansari returned to the Varkala helipad.