Mauritius Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam on Friday (September 12, 2025) offered prayers at the Ram temple in Ayodhya.
Mr. Ramgoolam along with his wife Veena Ramgoolam also reviewed the temple construction work and received updates on its progress, officials said.
A 30-member delegation of Mauritius officials accompanied him.
Earlier, on his arrival, he was welcomed by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
The route leading to the Ram temple from the airport was decorated to welcome the Mauritun PM.
Posters and banners welcoming Mr. Ramgoolam were also put up across the route.
U.P. Cabinet Minister Surya Pratap Shahi, who along with Mr. Adityanath welcomed Mr. Ramgoolam, said, "A large number of people from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar went to Mauritius during British rule and are in the mainstream there. They have kept the cultural identity of India alive there. We welcome the Prime Minister of Mauritius in Ayodhya."
Mr. Ramgoolam had earlier in the day visited the Kashi Vishwanath temple in Varanasi. Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel and state Finance and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Suresh Khanna were present with him during the darshan puja, the district administration said in a statement.
At the temple, he went to the sanctum sanctorum for shodashopachar puja.
Priest Teknarayan Upadhyay, who performed the puja for the Mauritius Prime Minister, said that he prayed for the prosperity of both the countries, to keep the relationship between the countries strong, and for the welfare of public.
Priest Neeraj Pandey said Mr. Ramgoolam was given Baba’s prasad and sandalwood paste was applied on him.
Mr. Pandey said Baba’s devotees chanted “Har Har Mahadev” and greeted the Mauritius Prime Minister, which he gracefully accepted.
Governor Anandiben Patel presented a pink-enamelled replica of the temple with GI tag to the Prime Minister, the statement said.
The Mauritius Prime Minister is currently on a State visit to India from September 9 to September 16.
He held bilateral talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday.