Scores of priests of the local Shiva temples will welcome Congress president Rahul Gandhi when he arrives in his Lok Sabha constituency of Amethi on a two-day visit on Monday, his first after visiting Kailash Mansarovar.
According to Congress leaders, a special 'tilak' (a red mark on the forehead) function would be held near Fursatganj at which Rahul would be "hailed" as a "Shiv Bhakt" (devotee of Lord Shiva).
"A large number of priests of Shiva Temples in Amethi had requested the party to organise such a function...they wanted to welcome Rahulji as a Shiv Bhakt," said a senior Congress leader in Amethi.
Congress sources said that hoardings hailing Rahul as a "Shiva devotee" would be put up at all the places, where the Congress president would visit.
"Rahulji will be greeted with the chants of Bum-Bum Bhole (a slogan used by the devotees of Lord Shiva) at his meetings in Amethi.
"Rahulji is a true Shiv Bhakt....he visited Kailash Mansarovar, a place revered by the devotees of Lord Shiva across the world," the leader told DH from Amethi.
He said that the Congress president, who would be meeting local leaders and launch several developmental projects, was also likely to pay obeisance at a few well-known temples during his two-day visit.
Rahul has been pushing his 'Soft Hindutva' agenda in an apparent bid to blunt the BJP charge that the Congress essentially was a "pro-Muslim" party.
The Congress president had visited several temples during the campaigning in Gujarat assembly polls last year.