Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrapped up the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) election campaign on May 30 and embarked on a two-day visit to Tamil Nadu. On Thursday, he commenced a meditation retreat at the Vivekananda Rock Memorial in Kanniyakumari.
PM Modi began his meditation session at the Dhyan Mandapam, where philosopher Swami Vivekananda once meditated. He will remain in meditation until June 1, the same day as the seventh and final phase of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Before reaching the memorial, Modi offered prayers at the Bhagavathy Amman Temple in Kanyakumari. Photos of the Prime Minister performing ‘Surya Puja’ and meditating at the memorial quickly went viral on social media.
The Vivekananda Rock Memorial, located off the coast of Kanniyakumari, is accessible by a short ferry ride. This spot marks the southern tip of India and is the convergence point of the Indian Ocean, Bay of Bengal, and Arabian Sea. By meditating at this symbolic location, Modi aims to send a message of national unity.
According to Hindu mythology, Goddess Parvati meditated at this location on one foot while waiting for Lord Shiva.
Modi concluded his election campaign for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls on May 30 in Hoshiarpur, Punjab, which will vote in the final phase on June 1. His home constituency, Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh, will also participate in the last phase of the elections. The Indian National Congress (INC) has fielded Ajay Rai to contest against Modi in Varanasi.
As the BJP’s star campaigner, Modi held approximately 206 election events, including rallies and roadshows, over 75 days. He also gave around 80 interviews to various media outlets.
This meditation retreat is not Modi’s first spiritual break after a campaign. In 2019, he visited Kedarnath, and in 2014, he visited Shivaji’s Pratapgarh.
