KATHMANDU: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has received Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Janaki Temple in Janakpurdham today.

Visiting PM Modi arrived in Janakpur via a special Air India flight on Friday morning.

The Indian PM, following a short exchange of greetings with PM Oli, took part in the Shodashopachara Pooja. This worship ceremony – with sixteen ritualistic services including Tantric mantra recitation – is carried out only by special guests at the Janaki Temple.

According to the temple’s priest Ramatpeshwar Das Vaishnav, prior to this, the worship ceremony was carried out by visiting Indian Presidents Neelam Sanjiva Reddy, Gyani Zail Singh and Pranab Mukherjee. Modi is the first Indian Prime Minister to hold such a worship at the temple.

Meanwhile, PM Oli expressed happiness over Modi's visit while Modi said he was extremely honoured to be received as such by the Nepal government.

Modi wrote in the visitor's book that it was his age long wish to visit the Jankpurdham which has now been fulfilled.