Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to meditate at the site named after Hindu saint Vivekananda on Thursday as the prime minister will be spending 45 hours at the famous Vivekananda rock memorial on Thursday and all preparations, including tight security, have been made.
A heavy contingent of 2,000 police officers and various security agencies will maintain a tight vigil in India’s southernmost district during the prime minister’s events, five years after he performed a similar meditation in the Kedarnath caves after the 2019 election campaign.
BJP leaders said PM Modi will meditate at the Rock Memorial, a monument built in honour of Swami Vivekananda, after the climax of the Lok Sabha election campaign on May 30. Party leaders said the PM will meditate from the evening of May 30 to the evening of June 1 at the Dhyan Mandapam, where Vivekananda, a spiritual icon revered by PM Modi, is believed to have had a divine vision of “Bharat Mata”.
Enhanced security
Security has been stepped up ahead of PM Modi’s visit. Tirunelveli Range Superintendent of Police Pravesh Kumar along with Superintendent of Police E. Sundaravathanam inspected the security arrangements at the rock memorial, boat jetty, helipad and guest house in Kanyakumari.
A test helicopter landing was also being carried out at the helipad when the prime minister’s main security team reached the venue.
About 2,000 police officers will be deployed in and around Kanyakumari, an international tourist destination.
Located on the coast close to the confluence of three seas – the Indian Ocean, the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea – the Sri Bhagavathi Amman Temple, the Thiruvalluvar statue and clean beaches also add to the allure of this destination.
The official Kanyakumari district administration website describes the rock as “according to legend, Goddess Kanyakumari performed tapas (meditation) on this rock.” As per the tentative schedule, PM Modi is scheduled to arrive in Kanyakumari late afternoon on May 30 and spend a spiritual stay there, after which he will proceed to the monument.
He will be staying at the Vivekananda Rock Memorial till 3 pm on June 1, when the seventh and final round of the ongoing Indian Lok Sabha elections will be held.
The Indian Coast Guard, Indian Coast Guard and Indian Navy will maintain vigil along the maritime border as the prime minister will be there for around 45 hours for meditation, officials said.
BJP leaders had earlier said Modi’s choice of Kanyakumari for his training demonstrates his determination to realise Vivekananda’s vision for the country.
He is confident of returning to power for a third term after the votes are counted on June 4. The final phase of voting is scheduled for June 1. Campaigning for the polls will end two days before the election.
They said the rock where the Prime Minister meditates had a profound impact on Vivekananda’s life and holds a significance in the monk’s life similar to that of Sarnath for Gautama Buddha.
They said Vivekananda had arrived here after wandering around the country, meditated for three days and had a vision of an developed India.
“Meditating at the same spot demonstrates PM Modi’s determination to realise Swami Guru’s vision of ‘Vikshit Bharat’,” the BJP leader said, adding that the place is also mentioned in holy scriptures as the place where Goddess Parvati meditated for Lord Shiva.
National unity and development
“Prime Minister Modi is demonstrating national unity by visiting Kanyakumari,” one leader said, adding that his visit to the state even after the elections are over also reflects his commitment and affection for Tamil Nadu.
The prime minister had made multiple visits to the state earlier this year, combining official duties with visits to places of religious importance such as Dhanushkodi, the site of the Ramayana.
