<p>Prime Minister Narendra Modi Sunday thanked the Election Commission for granting him permission to visit the Kedarnath shrine at a time when the model code of conduct is in force.</p>.<p>Modi, who spent around 17 hours at a holy cave near the shrine, offered prayers and performed puja at the temple.</p>.<p>He told reporters he did not ask for anything while praying as it is not his nature. "God has given us capacity to give and not demand," he said.</p>.<p>He said may the almighty bless not only India but the whole humankind with happiness, prosperity and welfare.</p>.<p>"I am fortunate to visit the temple on multiple occasions," he said while thanking the media for taking out time to visit Kedarnath at a time when the poll process is underway.</p>.<p>The media's presence, he said, will send a message that the town has been developed well.</p>.<p>Referring to the ongoing development works at the temple town, Modi said development should be a mission in which nature, environment and tourism should not be affected.</p>.<p>He said he has been reviewing the work through video-conferencing.</p>.<p>Modi reached the temple town Saturday. Dressed in a grey traditional pahari attire, he offered prayers for about 30 minutes and undertook a circumambulation of the Kedarnath shrine situated at a height of 11,755 feet near the Mandakini river.</p>.<p>The prime minister then went inside a cave near the shrine to meditate. Draped in a saffron shawl, Modi was seen meditating at the holy cave.</p>.<p>The prime minister also took stock of development work in the temple town.</p>.<p>Later in the day, he is expected to be in Badrinath, another temple in Uttarakhand's 'char dham' religious circuit.</p>.<p>This is Modi's fourth visit to the temple dedicated to Lord Shiva in the last two years.</p>.<p>The portals of Kedarnath and Badrinath shrines reopened for devotees earlier this month after the winter break.</p>.<p>The Election Commission gave its nod to the visit while "reminding" the Prime Minister's Office that the model code of conduct is still in force.</p>
<p>Prime Minister Narendra Modi Sunday thanked the Election Commission for granting him permission to visit the Kedarnath shrine at a time when the model code of conduct is in force.</p>.<p>Modi, who spent around 17 hours at a holy cave near the shrine, offered prayers and performed puja at the temple.</p>.<p>He told reporters he did not ask for anything while praying as it is not his nature. "God has given us capacity to give and not demand," he said.</p>.<p>He said may the almighty bless not only India but the whole humankind with happiness, prosperity and welfare.</p>.<p>"I am fortunate to visit the temple on multiple occasions," he said while thanking the media for taking out time to visit Kedarnath at a time when the poll process is underway.</p>.<p>The media's presence, he said, will send a message that the town has been developed well.</p>.<p>Referring to the ongoing development works at the temple town, Modi said development should be a mission in which nature, environment and tourism should not be affected.</p>.<p>He said he has been reviewing the work through video-conferencing.</p>.<p>Modi reached the temple town Saturday. Dressed in a grey traditional pahari attire, he offered prayers for about 30 minutes and undertook a circumambulation of the Kedarnath shrine situated at a height of 11,755 feet near the Mandakini river.</p>.<p>The prime minister then went inside a cave near the shrine to meditate. Draped in a saffron shawl, Modi was seen meditating at the holy cave.</p>.<p>The prime minister also took stock of development work in the temple town.</p>.<p>Later in the day, he is expected to be in Badrinath, another temple in Uttarakhand's 'char dham' religious circuit.</p>.<p>This is Modi's fourth visit to the temple dedicated to Lord Shiva in the last two years.</p>.<p>The portals of Kedarnath and Badrinath shrines reopened for devotees earlier this month after the winter break.</p>.<p>The Election Commission gave its nod to the visit while "reminding" the Prime Minister's Office that the model code of conduct is still in force.</p>