SHIMLA, September 20 — Prime Minister Narendra Modi has once again purchased traditional Himachali hemp slippers, known as ‘pullas’, handcrafted in Mandi and Kullu, for priests at the Kashi Vishwanath temple.
The slippers, made from hemp, are considered pure and permissible inside the temple, especially during the winter season. Modi instructed Leader of the Opposition Jai Ram Thakur to arrange the brightly handcrafted footwear for the priests.
Modi had previously ordered hemp slippers for Kashi Vishwanath priests in January 2022, after first noticing the ‘pullas’ on display at a stall during a visit to Mandi on December 27, 2021.
The Prime Minister made a personal payment of Rs 12,000 for the slippers, which was transferred directly to the accounts of two women self-help groups (SHGs) involved in their production. “We have received the payment for the ‘pullas’ that we were asked to make on the request of the Prime Minister,” said Neha Devi of Kandidhar village in Chattri tehsil, Mandi. Rameshu Devi from Sandocha village added, “It is a matter of pride for us that the Prime Minister had asked for the ‘pullas’ that he had earlier bought in 2022.”
Thakur confirmed the arrangements, saying, “I got in touch with two self-help groups in Mandi that are into handcrafting ‘pullas’. The Prime Minister personally made the payment of Rs 12,000 to these two SHGs.” The consignment has since been sent for use by the temple priests.
