Varanasi decks up to welcome Abe, Modi

The holy city of Varanasi decks up for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe's visit here to attend 'Ganga Aarti' at famous Dasaswamedh Ghat on Saturday.

After the summit level talks, both Prime Minister Abe and his Indian counterpart will be heading for Varanasi, which is barley 15 km from Sarnath, a holy site for Buddhists, where Lord Buddha is believed to have delivered his first sermon upon attaining enlightenment.

At least, along the 25-km stretch of road between Babatpur airport and Dashashwamedh through which the convoy of Prime Minister Modi and his Japanese counterpart will pass through got a makeover.

A huge make-shift stage has been erected on the river bed with the help of pontoons, while a thick blanket of security has been thrown over the city for the VIPs.

The visit came in the backdrop of a part of the Partner City Agreement between Kyoto and Varanasi signed by the two leaders during Prime Minister Modi's trip to Japan in August last.

It is for the first time that Prime Minister Modi will visit his constituency with a foreign dignitary.