Macron, who had spent time at the Taj Mahal with his wife Brigitte yesterday, was given a traditional welcome with showering of flower petals, a Shehnai recital and chanting of mantras before he took a decked-up boat which ferried him, Modi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath between Assi and Dashwamedh ghats.

People and school-leaders gathered in large numbers along the ghats waving flags of India and France while artistes enacted scenes from Ramleela and the episode of first sermon by Lord Buddha to his five disciples.
Earlier, Prime Minister Modi and visiting French President Emmanuel Macron French President Emmanuel Macron inaugurated 101-megawatt solar power plant in Mirzapur district of the state.
157 million unit of power will be produced per year from the project at Dadar Kala village. About one lakh houses are likely to get power from the project. Commercial production will begin from next month.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has emphasised on the promotion of more use of solar energy in daily life. He was addressing a public meeting at Diesel Locomotive Works, DLW campus in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh this evening.

Mr Modi said that more use of solar energy can improve the quality of life of women and also protect the environment. He  said several projects are under consideration for modernisation and expansion of DLW to create employment avenues in Varanasi.(With Agency Inputs ).