Lucknow, Aug 16 (IANS): As the health of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee continues to be critical at the AIIMS in New Delhi, special prayers for his recovery were held on Thursday by different communities in various parts of Uttar Pradesh.

Several people in Allahabad and Varanasi held recitations of the 'Mahamritynujaya Mantra' (a Hindu religious practice believed to ward off death) while Shia Muslims in the capital city also prayed for his speedy recovery.

Prayers were also organized in Balrampur, where Vajpayee started his political journey. A special 'puja' was held at the Panchvati temple in Varanasi, the parliamentary constituency of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Similar prayers were held in Agra, Kanpur, Gorakhpur, Meerut and Hardoi.

Workers of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) also held prayers at their homes.

Vajpayee, who was admitted in the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) on June 11, is "critical" and "on life support", according to a hospital statement.

Sources said Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is likely to fly to the union capital to be by the side of Vajpayee.

No major event has been slated for the day and ministers in the state government are keeping a close tab on Vajpayee's health.