Modi offers prayers on banks of Ganges

India's prime minister-elect Narendra Modi offered prayers on the banks of the river Ganges on Saturday, after making a visit to the sacred city of Varanasi where he was greeted by thousands of well-wishers. Modi, flanked by other senior figures from his victorious Bharatiya Janata Party, performed a series of Hindu rituals to seek blessings ahead of his swearing-in which is expected next week, according to AFP.