PM Narendra Modi @ Ganga Talao

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday visited the Ganga Talao, considered to be the most sacred Hindu place in Mauritius, and offered prayers at the temple dedicated to Lord Shiva.

Modi, who held talks with Mauritius' top leadership on Wednesday night, began the second day of his trip here by visiting the holy site in the morning and performing 'puja' and 'aarti' at the temple dedicated to Lord Shiva.

The Ganga Talao also known as the Grand Bassin is a crater lake situated in a secluded mountain area in the district of Savanne, deep in the heart of Mauritius. It is about 1,800 feet above sea level.

The first group of pilgrims who went to Ganga Talao were from the village of Triolet and it was led by Pandit Giri Gossayne from Terre Rouge in 1898.

It is considered the most sacred Hindu place in Mauritius and a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva is situated on the lake-side.

During Shivaratri, many pilgrims in Mauritius walk bare feet from their homes to the lake.

Later, Modi hailed Mauritius for enriching Hindi literature through its contribution and said the language has occupied a special place in the world.

On the second leg of his three-nation visit in Port Louis, Modi wished the people of Mauritius on behalf of nearly 125 crore
Indians on the occasion of the country's National Day.

Modi also laid the foundation stone of construction of World Hindi Secretariat building in Port Louis where he spoke highly about the uniqueness of the Hindi language.

The national day of Mauritius is celebrated every year on March 12. This day was selected as a tribute to Gandhiji as he had launched the famous Dandi March.

"Hindi language is a medium to express emotions. When someone speaks in native language it comes out of his heart. Our ancestors had brought Hindi to Mauritius.

"The love an acceptance that the Hindi language has received in Mauritius is an example in itself. Mauritius is a country which has its own Hindi literature. It has contributed immensely to the language," Modi said.

The prime minister, whose government has been pitching for use of Hindi in official works in India, said the language has made a special place for itself in the world of languages.

In lighter note, Modi referred to his Mauritian counterpart Anerood Jugnauth's surname saying English word juggernaut may have roots in it.

"I have come here with wishes of 1.2 billion Indians," he said.

Image: Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Ganga Talao, in Mauritius

Photographs: Press Information Bureau