Amongst the infrastructure, social and economic developments taking place in the country at a rapid level, PM Modi on Friday laid the foundation stone for the Kashi Vishwanath Temple corridor in his Lok Sabha constituency Varanasi for an extension and beautification project of the temple. While offering prayers, the Prime Minister said it was his long-standing dream to renovate the temple complex.
Varanasi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi lays the foundation stone of Kashi Vishwanath Temple Corridor. pic.twitter.com/m4QrbFUECS
— ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) March 8, 2019
The ‘Kashi Vishwanath Mandir Vistarikaran-Saundarayakaran Yojana’ (Kashi Vishwanath Temple Extension and Beautification Plan) is an ambitious project that includes approach roads and beautification spread over around 39 thousand square metres at Baba Vishwanath temple and nearby areas. Moreover, with the construction of this corridor, the temple complex will get direct connectivity with the river Ganga. PM Modi stated, “Began my Kashi visit by praying at the Kashi Vishwanath Temple, a symbol of our culture’s pride. In the Temple complex, performed the Bhumipujan of Vishwanath Dham project, a futuristic corridor around the Temple that will benefit several pilgrims and tourists coming to Kashi.” UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and state governor Ram Naik also accompanied Modi.
Looking back at the history of vicious vicissitudes of the centuries, Mughal emperor Aurangzeb had got a portion of the temple demolished in 1669 to have the Gyanvapi Mosque built over a well where a Shivalinga had been kept. Aurangzeb was infuriated when the Maharani of Kutch was dishonoured inside the temple and ordered its demolition.
PM Modi recalled and praised Queen Ahiyabai Holkar for her work on the Kashi Vishwanath Temple, over two centuries ago between 1777 and 1780.
PM Modi stated, “Vishwanath Dham is a project that I have been thinking about for a long time. I have come to Kashi even before I was in active politics. Since then I would think that one must do something for the Temple Complex. With the blessings of Bhole Baba, my dream has come true.”
“I am told the Mahashivratri celebrations this time were special in Kashi. We are working on projects that will improve facilities for pilgrims in Kashi. Lakhs of pictures of this place flooded the social media. We are connecting Kashi Vishwanath temple with Ganga so that devotees can travel directly between the two holy places,” he stated in Varanasi.
“With this corridor, Kashi is going to get a new identity in the whole world. When I came for elections in 2014, I had said that I haven’t come but have been called here. Today I think that was an invitation for such work only and now that resolve has further strengthened,” added the Prime Minister recalling his election time remark about fighting elections from Varanasi.
The Prime Minister targeted the previous Samajwadi Party government in Uttar Pradesh for delaying the project. “If I had got the cooperation of the state government in the first three years, we would probably have been inaugurating this project today. However, the first three years we had a non-cooperative environment. After Yogi Adityanath took charge of the state dispensation the development of Kashi is progressing with great efficiency,” PM Modi said.
The devotees all over the country are rejoicing with the news. The temple is a major Shiva pilgrimage site and the extension and beautification project will not only accommodate more devotees in a comfortable manner but also beautifies a national heritage site of the country. Moreover, connectivity with the holy Ganga will all the more enhance the piousness of the temple.
