India’s new temple district: Modi’s one-man show on the holy river

Prime Minister Modi had a temple district built in the largest Indian state of Uttar Pradesh in record time. Shortly before the elections, Modi came to inaugurate him – an affront for the Muslims in the country.

People cheer the prime minister. But the politician Narendra Modi begins his speech more like a priest. “Lord Shiva is everywhere, Mother Annapurna’s victory, Mother Ganga’s victory” – the Prime Minister’s speech begins with religious formulas here in Varanasi on the holy river Ganges.

Within two and a half years, Modi had a new temple district built – around the important old Kashi Vishvanath temple. High walls, wide courtyards – and a corridor from the Ganges up to the temple.

“Our scriptures say that once you step into Kashi, you will be released from all shackles,” Modi continued. “The blessing of Lord Vishweshwara, a supernatural energy, awakens our inner soul as soon as we come here.”

For 40 million euros

The religious building cost the equivalent of 40 million euros. Up to 70,000 devout Hindus per day can now first take their ritual bath in the Ganges and then pray at the Kashi Temple.

Varanasi is the constituency of Premier Modi. The elections for the state parliament of Uttar Pradesh, the largest Indian state with 200 million inhabitants, which Modi’s Hindu nationalist party BJP has already governed, are expected to take place here in February and March.

A signal of exclusion for Muslims

A premier who opens a Hindu temple with religious pomp is a signal of marginalization for the 40 million Muslims in Uttar Pradesh. When Modi talks about the Muslim rulers in India’s history, they fear he is also referring to the present.

The invaders attacked this city and tried to destroy it, Modi continued in his speech. The story of the atrocities of the ruler Aurangzeb and his terror is testimony to it. He tried to change civilization with the sword, to destroy culture with fanaticism. But the soil of this country is different from the rest of the world.

Division instead of harmony?

The politics of Modi’s camp do not bode well for the holy city of Varanasi, according to the lecturer Amitabh Bhattacharya of the local university BHU Varanasi. Hindus and Muslims have lived in great harmony with one another for a long time. This beautiful harmony or way of life is in a certain way disturbed, threatened or at least weakened, so Bhattacharya.

Not only Muslims see the opening of the new Kashi temple district as an affront, but also liberal Hindus such as Amitabh Bhattacharya.

“Intolerance is not part of the culture”

If it is religious hatred, Bhattacharya said, then it is a danger to the culture of this city. Because this city is basically a city of peace. And it is the city of tolerance. Intolerance is not part of the Varanasi culture.

And what applies to the city also applies to all of India, says Bhattacharya. But he has hope, he says. “This political aggression, too, is a mortal reality. This new philosophy and its philosophers will also have to go at some point. Sooner or later. Let’s hope it is soon.”