New Delhi: On the morning of 5 December 2025, Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Rajghat, the memorial of Mahatma Gandhi, to pay homage — and the tribute was suffused with the soul-stirring strains of two deeply evocative bhajans: Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram and Vaishnava Jana To.

Visuals from the site showed Putin laying a wreath at Gandhi’s memorial, offering floral tributes, and signing the visitors’ book — all while prayers in melodic form echoed around Rajghat. According to reports, the bhajans played in the background were not incidental: both songs are closely associated with Gandhi’s spiritual and moral philosophy. ADVERTISEMENT

The rendition of “Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram” — long recognized as a favourite of the father of the nation — resonated especially deeply, given its l

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