Ganga Bath Changed Me: VP Radhakrishnan Embraces Vegetarianism in Varanasi
Ganga Bath Changed Me: VP Radhakrishnan Embraces Vegetarianism in Varanasi
During a visit to Varanasi, Vice-President C.P. Radhakrishnan credited a Ganga bath with inspiring him to become vegetarian as he and CM Yogi Adityanath inaugurated a new satram, underscoring growing cultural ties.
During his first visit to Kashi 25 years ago, Vice-President C.P. Radhakrishnan was a non-vegetarian, he revealed, until a dip in the Ganga changed his life and nudged him toward vegetarianism. Speaking in Varanasi on Friday, he alongside Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath inaugurated the new satram constructed by the Sri Kasi Nattukkottai Nagara Satram Managing Society.
Radhakrishnan emphasized that the project is more than bricks and mortar. He noted the satram, funded through ₹60 crore raised by the Nagarathar community, stands as a symbol of faith, resilience and collaboration across regions. He said the building embodies a new chapter in the cultural bond between North and South India, and he credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi and CM Adityanath for transforming Kashi over the past 25 years.
Addressing the gathering, he highlighted the transformation of Kashi from twenty-five years ago to today, pointing to the changing landscape and the active role of the Nagarathar community in service and social work. He said, "Dharma may face a crisis temporarily, but it is never permanent," and expressed pride in the community's contribution to cross-regional ties.
The event also touched on the ongoing Kashi Tamil Sangamam, which has long drawn Tamil scholars, poets and devotees to the city in search of knowledge and spiritual enlightenment. The new satram is seen as strengthening those bonds and reinforcing the cooperation between Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh.
Weaving together faith, culture and progress, the Vice-President's remarks painted a picture of tradition adapting to modern times—an image many residents hope will guide future collaborations between the two regions.
Cover image source: My life changed after bathing in Ganga, adopted vegetarianism: Vice-President Radhakrishnan 🔗
