LUCKNOW, Oct. 17 -- Defence minister and Lucknow MP Rajnath Singh visited a Durga Puja pandal in Jankipuram on Friday and offered prayers on Navratri, wishing people on the occasion and praying for India to regain its position as "Vishwa Guru". "Prayed to Maa Durga to give India so much strength and capability that the cou- ntry once again becomes Vishwa Guru," Singh said at the pandal. He said India's prestige on international platforms had risen rapidly. "There was a time when world did not take India's words seriously, but it is Maa Durga's blessing that today whole world listens carefully to what India says. India is continuously moving on path of progress and its reputation is constantly getting stronger at global level. This is a symbol of the country's growing strength," he said. Singh said Navratri is the festival of power, faith and sadhana where nine forms of Goddess Durga are worshipped over nine days. Singh praised the Durga Puja organising committees for organising the event on a grand scale every year and congratulated its convenors and members. He assured them of all possible assistance in making future events even grander. Defence minister and Lucknow MP Rajnath Singh met several bereaved families during his Lucknow visit on Friday, paying tributes to departed souls and consoling grieving family members. Singh visited the residence of Ritesh Gupta in Sadar Bazar Cantonment to condole the death of his mother. He also expressed grief over the demise of Devendra Pratap Singh, father of Shakuntala University vice-chancellor Prof Sanjay Singh. In Shyam Vihar Colony, Buddheshwar, Singh met the family of the nephew of BJP Lucknow Mahanagar general secretary Satyendra Singh and offered his condolences. He also visited the residence of late senior BJP leader Diwakar Seth to pay floral tributes and the residence of late Dr SR Azmi in Mukarim Nagar, Daliganj. In Hasanganj, he consoled the family of Sandeep Singh Verma following the death of his mother. In Indira Nagar Sector 11, Singh met the family of BJP Lucknow Mahanagar Mantri Pankaj Saxena following the death of his father. He also visited the family of late Bhola Nath Tiwari in Vishal Khand, Gomti Nagar....