Vice President Radhakrishnan says, my life changed after bathing in Ganga, adopted vegetarianism

Vice President CP Radhakrishnan told that during his first visit to Kashi 25 years ago, he was a non-vegetarian. However, after taking a bath in the river Ganges, he experienced a significant change in himself and adopted vegetarianism.

Radhakrishnan along with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath inaugurated the new Satram (accommodation facility) built by Sri Kasi Nattukkottai Nagar Satram Managing Society in Varanasi.

Addressing the event, Radhakrishnan said, “Religion may face a temporary crisis, but it is never permanent. This building is testimony to that. When I came to Kashi for the first time 25 years ago, I was a non-vegetarian. After taking a bath in the Ganga, my life changed so much that I adopted vegetarianism.”

Pointing towards the transformation of Kashi, Radhakrishnan said, “There is a lot of difference between the Kashi of 25 years ago and the Kashi of today. This change has been possible only because of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.”

The Vice President praised the Nagarathar community for their commitment to social service and their ongoing efforts to promote Tamil culture wherever they go. He acknowledged his important contribution The construction of the Satram was funded to the tune of Rs 60 crore through community donations, describing it as a symbol of trust, resilience and cooperation between different sectors.

He emphasized that the active presence of the Natukottai group brings together service, religion and progress. “This building embodies that spirit,” he said.

Talking about the new facility, Radhakrishnan mentioned that it is not just a building but also represents a new chapter in the cultural bond between North and South India.

He said it would further strengthen the age-old ties between Tamil Nadu and Kashi, where Tamil scholars, poets and devotees have long traveled in search of knowledge and spiritual enlightenment. He said, Kasi Tamil Sangamam has further strengthened this bond.

He said that this institution was established in 1863 to assist the devotees traveling to Kashi from Tamil Nadu, which continues even today.

Referring to events like the return of Annapurni Devi idol and Kashi-Tamil Sangamam, he said that a spiritual renaissance is taking place in Kashi under the leadership of Modi and Adityanath.

He also lauded the return of the idol of Goddess Annapurni Amman Devi to the Kasi Vishwanath temple complex. He said the idol, stolen from a temple in Varanasi a century ago, was returned to India from Canada in 2021 due to the sustained efforts of the Indian government under the leadership of Modi.

The Vice President noted that the facility has 76 solar lamps (worth) 1.5 crore), is a symbol of green energy, which will save approx. 25 lakhs annually.

After the inauguration, the Vice President visited the Kashi Vishwanath Temple and prayed for peace, prosperity and well-being of all. He also offered prayers at the Annapurni Amman Devi temple located in the temple premises.

Earlier, in a post on X, Radhakrishnan had said that the 10-storey Satram, which has 140 rooms, is the second facility built by the society in Varanasi.

Radhakrishnan’s post said, “It aims to serve the visiting devotees and encourage the younger generation to visit the holy city. This initiative reflects the age-old spiritual and cultural bond between Kashi and Tamil Nadu, symbolizing the deep Kashi-Tamil connect in the spirit of Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat (One India, Great India).”