Mauritian Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam on Friday paid homage at the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple in Ayodhya, joining Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for prayers at the newly built complex.
Ramgoolam, who is on a week-long state visit to India at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, received a traditional welcome upon arrival. Streets across the temple town were lined with posters and banners greeting him, reflecting the ceremonial mood surrounding the visit.
Earlier in the day, the Mauritian leader stopped at the historic Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi, underscoring the religious and cultural emphasis of his trip.
Ayodhya’s Senior Superintendent of Police Gaurav Grover said that a detailed security plan had been executed for the high-profile guest. “Extensive preparations were made in the district. Senior officers carried out site inspections and completed all required arrangements. External officials and security forces were also deployed,” Grover told reporters, adding that the itinerary was “meticulously planned minute-by-minute from the VIP’s arrival to departure.”
On Thursday, Modi and Ramgoolam met in Varanasi to review bilateral ties. According to officials, the leaders reaffirmed plans to deepen cooperation in infrastructure, healthcare, digital technology, energy, maritime security and other sectors. The meeting highlighted what New Delhi describes as an “Enhanced Strategic Partnership” with Mauritius — a framework the two countries adopted during Modi’s visit to Port Louis in March.
The Mauritian prime minister, making his first overseas bilateral trip of the current term, is scheduled to remain in India until September 16. His last major visit was in May 2014, when he attended Modi’s swearing-in ceremony as the only non-SAARC leader present, a gesture that cemented his country’s role as a special partner in India’s outreach to the Indian Ocean region.
Officials say Ramgoolam’s current itinerary reflects both spiritual ties and strategic cooperation. “It is a visit that underlines the civilisational bonds, people-to-people links and shared values between our two nations,” one senior Indian diplomat said.
