Photo Gallery: PM Modi takes holy dip, honours sanitation workers at Kumbh

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Sunday took a holy dip at the Sangam here and interacted with sanitation workers, who have ensured cleanliness during the ongoing Kumbh Mela, describing them as "real karma-yogis" whose contributions are being lauded all over. PM Modi also performed the Ganga aarti and conducted 'Charan Vandana' (washing the feet) of select sanitation workers, as a mark of respect to their efforts in ensuring a clean Kumbh. He presented them 'angvastram' and said he would carry the memory of washing the feet of safai karamcharis life-long. In a tweet, he said he prayed for the well-being of 130 crore Indians at the Sangam. He described all those, who have been involved in ensuring the best of arrangements for the devotees gathering at Prayagraj for the Kumbh, as "real karma-yogis". In this context, he mentioned the NDRF, the boatmen, the local population, and the sanitation workers as well.

Starting and ending his speech paying gratitude to the holy rivers in Prayagraj, a place of reverence, especially for Hindus, PM Modi also praised the "naaviks' (boatmen), calling them the "sevak" of Lord Ram. The prime minister described himself as their, the boatmen's, pradhan sevak (principal servant). He said the infrastructure created for this year's Kumbh is permanent, unlike previous years.

Narrating his experience of washing the feet of swachagrahis (safai workers), the prime minister said, "The moments of washing the feet will remain forever etched in my life."

Referring to the Namami Gange Mission, PM Modi said the nirmalta (pristine nature) of river Ganga would be maintained. He said that the cleanliness of Ganga river has been the subject of much discussion this year, adding that today, he has witnessed it first-hand.

A few days ago, he said, he received the Seoul Peace Prize, which included an amount of about Rs 1.30 crore. He said he donated that amount towards the Namami Gange Mission.

The Prime Minister also mentioned that the gifts and mementoes he received as prime minister have also been auctioned, and their proceeds have gone towards Namami Gange Mission. PM Modi said a 'Swachh Sewa Samman Kosh' has been created.