For the followers of Kabir Das, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit today to his mausoleum was a particularly special event.
It brought focus on the 'nirvana sthal' of the 15th century poet-saint on his 500th death anniversary.
"Ever since the reports about the Prime Minister's visit to Maghar, there has been a renewed interest among the Kabirpanthis to get connected with this place," Mahant Vichardas of the Kabir samadhi said.
He appreciated the government initiative to develop the Kabir chaura and Kabir mausoleum at Maghar, and its plans to set up an academy there in honour of the saint.
"I have been receiving calls on a daily basis from them and today there must have been over 3,000 Kabirpanthis at the prime minister's rally," he said.
One such Kabirpanthi, Bhopal Sagam Das (58), who had come from Bhopal, said, "I met a lot of followers who had come from Gujarat, MP, Delhi and Lucknow. Like me, they are all feeling very happy."
Delhi resident Kishore Das (36) said, "I run a grocery shop, but when I heard about the programme in Maghar, I was not able to stop myself.
Today I have seen different faces of PM Modi... the way he was reciting Sant Kabir Dasji's 'dohas' was remarkable. Next time I will visit the place with my family, and I wish my children can do research at the Sant Kabir Academy."
Hari Das (60), a Kabirpanthi who had came all the way from Gujarat, expressed happiness over the event but didn't want it to be linked to politics.
Kabir bhakts had come here to attend a spiritual programme and their visit should not be linked to elections or votes, as they are very different and have nothing to do with Sant Kabir Das ji's Prakat divas."
Mahant Bal Yogi Das, the patron of the 'Sadguru Kabir Charan Paduka Sthal Samadhi' temple in Gorakhpur, said, "I am happy that at last a prime minister went to Kabir sthan in Maghar."
"I want to appeal to PM Modi and CM Yogi Adityanath to develop 'Sadguru Kabir Charan Paduka Sthal Samadhi' where Sant Kabir's charan padukas (footwear) are kept," he said.
Modi was in Maghar in Sant Kabir Nagar district to mark the saint's 500th death anniversary, and invoked him while accusing the opposition of trying to create unrest in society.
At his public rally, Modi said a wish he had for years had been fulfilled when he homage to Kabir at the hallowed land of Maghar, where legend says Sant Kabir, Guru Nanak and Baba Gorakhnath had engaged in spiritual discussion."
The prime minister described Sant Kabir as representing the essence of India's soul. "He broke the barriers of caste and spoke the language of the ordinary rural Indian," Modi said.
He said saints have risen from time to time in various parts of India, and guided society to rid itself of social evils.
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