WATCH THIS: PM Modi personally washes the feet of safai karamcharis at the Kumbh mela, tells them what their efforts mean to him

Prime Minister Narendra Modi walked the talk as far as his goal of establishing a 'Swachh Bharat' is concerned, by paying rich tribute to the sanitation workers at the Kumbh Mela where he took a holy dip on Sunday.

Right after he completed his holy dip in the sacred Triveni Sangam, the Prime Minister performed a Ganga aarti alongside Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. After that, he proceeded to an event stage where he was to make a speech, with dignitaries such as the UP CM, senior BJP leader Uma Bharti and Deputy UP CM Keshav Prasad Maurya in ascendance. However, before doing so, he went to an adjoining chamber where a number of the 'safai karamcharis' who had worked towards cleanliness at the world's largest religious gathering were seated.

Upon reaching the room, the Prime Minister sat on a low stool before the karamcharis and washed their feet with his own hands and some copper utensils. After doing his work painstakingly - speaking to them the entire time - he felicitated them.

Later, the Prime Minister delivered a stirring speech wherein he extolled the organisation of the Kumbh Mela further. He remarked on how the event had been organised so well that it was now a case study abroad, and that even though the sanitation and cleanliness workers had toiled from dawn till dusk each day without seeking any recognition or reward, he had received reports of their good work even in New Delhi.

Extensive preparations are required to host a mammoth event like the Kumbh Mela. It essentially entails the contsruction of an entire city on the banks of the Ganges, including tents, pontoons, electricity and sanitation infrastructure and a lot more. PM Modi showered high praise on the Yogi Adityanath-led Uttar Pradesh government for the smooth conduct of the mela, which was attended by over 20 crore people - a population roughly equivalent to that of Uttar Pradesh as a whole.