India giving befitting reply to anti-national forces: Modi in Varanasi

While honoring soldiers of the country at the event, Modi said, "On the occasion of Dev Deepawali, I pay my tributes to all those who have laid their lives for the nation."

"The nation is giving a befitting reply to the expansionist forces, to those trying to infiltrate into India or those trying to break India from India," he added.

Modi lit a lamp at Raj Ghat to mark Dev Deepawali, which is celebrated on the full moon of the Hindu month of Kartik 15 days after Diwali.

"Today, along with the banks of Ma Ganga, Kashi is celebrating Dev Deepawali and with the blessings of Mahadev, I also got an opportunity to take a dip in the light of the festivities," Modi said.

During the event, Modi said an ancient idol of Goddess Annapurna, which was stolen from a temple in Varanasi in 1913, will be brought back to India from Canada.

Taking a dig at previous governments, Modi said that had similar efforts been made earlier, India would have been able to bring back several such statues that were stolen and smuggled out of the country.

Earlier in the day, Modi had offered prayers at the Kashi Vishwanath Temple along with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

He also launched the Pawan Path website for information about the temples in Varanasi.

Further, he inaugurated the six-lane widening of the Varanasi-Prayagraj National Highway in Handia, Prayagraj, where he spoke about the recent protests against the Centre's contentious farm laws.