Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai on Monday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership has given renewed recognition to India’s Sanatan traditions and spiritual heritage. He said that major religious and cultural centres across the country are witnessing rapid development and restoration.
Sai was speaking at the “Somnath Swabhiman Parv” programme held at the Hatkeshwar Mahadev Temple complex at Mahadev Ghat in Raipur. During the event, the Chief Minister, along with devotees and public representatives, virtually joined Prime Minister Modi’s address and the prayers offered at the Somnath Temple in Gujarat.
Notably, in his address, the Prime Minister spoke about the history of the Somnath Temple, the repeated invasions on the shrine, its reconstruction after Independence, and the ongoing efforts to preserve important centres of faith across the country.
Referring to the occasion, Chief Minister Sai said the country was marking 75 years of the reconstruction of the Somnath Temple. He said that despite repeated attacks by invaders over centuries, the faith and traditions associated with the temple could never be destroyed.
Sai recalled that during the first attack on the temple, priests and devotees chose not to abandon the shrine and sacrificed their lives. He said their sacrifice continues to hold an important place in history.
The Chief Minister also referred to the role played by India’s first Home Minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel in rebuilding the Somnath Temple after Independence. He noted that India’s first President, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, had attended the inauguration ceremony of the reconstructed temple despite opposition at the time.
Praising Prime Minister Modi, Sai said several major pilgrimage centres, including Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi, Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga in Ujjain, and the Somnath Temple in Gujarat, have undergone extensive development in recent years.
He said that the Chhattisgarh government is also focusing on the development of religious and cultural sites in the state. Temples dedicated to goddess traditions are being developed under the Shaktipeeth scheme, he added.
Sai also said that the Bhoramdeo Temple had received approval of ₹148 crore under the Swadesh Darshan scheme for tourism infrastructure and beautification works.
Before the programme, Sai offered prayers at the Hatkeshwar Mahadev Temple and wished for peace, prosperity, and harmony in the state. He described Chhattisgarh as the maternal home of Lord Rama and said that more than 40,000 devotees had so far visited Ayodhya under the state government’s Shri Ramlala Darshan Yojana.