PM buys pullas, hemp slippers, for Kashi Vishwanath temple priests

Tribune News Service

Shimla, September 20

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has again purchased traditional hemp slippers called pullas that are made in villages of Mandi and Kullu for use by priests in the Vishwanath temple at Kashi.

Modi asked Leader of the Opposition Jai Ram Thakur to send a pair of brightly handcrafted pullas for use by priests in the Vishwanath temple, especially during the winter. Since these slippers are made from hemp, these can be worn in the temple as these are considered pure as compared to any other kind of slippers that are not permitted into the shrine.

The Prime Minister had earlier ordered hemp slippers for the Kashi Vishwanath priests in January 2022. It was during a visit to Mandi in December 27, 2021, that Modi had first seen the pullas, which were on display at a stall in an exhibition at the Paddal maidan in Mandi city.

The Prime Minister also made a payment of Rs 12,000 for the hemp slippers from his personal account, which was transferred to the bank accounts of two women self-help groups, which make pullas. “We have received the payment for the pullas that we were asked to make on the request of the Prime Minister,” said Neha Devi, a resident of Kandidhar village in Chattri tehsil of Mandi. Rameshu Devi, a resident of Sandocha village in Mandi, said that it was a matter of pride for her that the Prime Minister had asked for the pullas that he had earlier bought in 2022.

Thakur said that the Prime Minister had asked him to arrange the pullas. “I got in touch with two self-help groups in Mandi that are into handcrafting pullas. The Prime Minister personally made the payment of Rs 12,000 to these two SHGs,” he added. The consignment of the hemp slippers was sent to the Prime Minister.