Modi visits Buddhist temples in Kyoto

Kyoto, Aug 31 :

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited two prominent Buddhist temples here Sunday on the first full day of a five-day visit to Japan that will later him to Tokyo.

Modi first went to the Toji temple accompanied by his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe, who flew down to Kyoto Saturday specially to receive the Indian leader.

External affairs ministry officials said Modi went around the 57 meters tall eighth century shrine in the company of the chief monk who explained to him various features of the temple.

Modi and Abe “rinkindle ancient India-Japan civilisational bonds with visit to Toji temple”, a tweet by a ministry spokesman said. The temple is a Unesco World Heritage site.

The Indian prime minister then visited another ancient temple. The Kinkaku temple, also in Kyoto, was built in 1397.

At both places, Modi waved to crowds — Indians and Japanese. Some had reached the temples for a glimpse of Modi who took office in May.

I’M MODI, YOU’RE MORI

“I am Modi and you are Mori!” This is how Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi greeted the head monk of a Buddhist temple he visited here Sunday.

Modi, who looked dapper in a white kurta pyjama and bandhgala, spent some time with the 83-year-old head priest Yasu Nagamori of Kinkaku-ji temple, a spokesman for the external affairs ministry tweeted.

Prior to visiting the 1397-built Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion) temple, Modi also went to the 57 meters tall Toji temple here.

Modi is on a five-day visit to Japan.

(IANS)