Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Varanasi on August 2, 2025, declaring that his promise to retaliate against the April 22 Pahalgam terrorist attack has been fulfilled - with the blessings of Lord Shiva and the memory of India's daughters' sindoor (turn0search2, turn0search15). He prefaced his speech with "Om Namah Parvati Pataye Har Har Mahadev" and said: "I promised my daughters I would avenge their 'sindoor' - today, that promise is fulfilled because of Shiva’s blessings".

During the visit, Modi also inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for 52 development projects worth approximately ₹2,200 crore, including the four-lane Varanasi‑Bhadohi highway, upgraded ghats, healthcare, and urban infrastructure .

Additionally, he disbursed the 20th instalment of ₹21,000 crore under PM-Kisan, benefitting over 9.7 crore farmers, and distributed more than 7,400 assistive aids to disabled individuals and senior citizens .

Modi characterized the visit as a spiritually significant return to Varanasi, marking the first since Operation Sindoor, and reaffirmed his vision of a resilient New India guided by divine and national resolve.