PM Modi purchases traditional Himachali hemp slippers for Kashi temple priests

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has once again purchased traditional Himachali 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 the brightly handcrafted ‘pullas’ for use by priests inside 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.