Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday attended the Pratistha Utsav (inaugural event) of the new temple complex at Tara Tarini shrine in Ganjam district.
Describing today as an auspicious day, Patnaik sought the blessings of Maa Tara Tarini for the well being of the people of Odisha, especially the people of Ganjam.
After the darshan of Maa Tara Tarini, the Chief Minister said that Odisha is a land of gods. The tradition of Shakti Puja in Odisha is very old. In the villages of Odisha, worship of the goddess has been going on since time immemorial.
He said that Maa Tara Tarini is the patron deity of Ganjam and the people of the district take her refuge in both joy and sorrow. It is with the blessings and will of the goddess, her temple has taken on this magnificent form. The Chief Minister thanked everyone for their cooperation in the work.
Stating that the new look of Maa Tara Tarini temple is a unique example of Odisha’s art, architecture and sculpture, the Chief Minister thanked the artists and artisans involved in the work.
He praised the new look and feel of the temple and its developed environment, which will help attract more devotees and tourists alike. Finally, the Chief Minister called on all to work together for the development of Ganjam on the basis of peace and cooperation.
The Chief Minister also inaugurated various amenities for devotees and tourists and laid the foundation stone for the development work on the Rusikulya river basin.
Servitors of Puri’s Jagannath Temple, Bhubaneswar’s Lingaraj Temple, Sambalpur’s Samaleshwari Temple, Kendrapara’s Baladevjew Temple, and other temples in the State, attended the event.
Late eminent architect and sculptor Padma Vibhushan Raghunath Mohapatra was instrumental in the construction of the magnificent temple. His grandson Smitesh Mohapatra and leading architect Narayan Tripathy were felicitated during the event.
It is pertinent to mention that Tara Tarini Temple on the Kumari hills at the bank of the River Rushikulya nearly 30 kilometres away from Berhampur city in Ganjam District is a major Shakti Peetha and the abode of Goddesses Tara and Tarini.
The Chief Minister’s move to revamp the shrine became fruitful today. Bhoomi Pujan for the construction of the new temple complex had been done during the tenure of Secretary to CM (5T) VK Pandian as Ganjam Collector.
In the past, devotees had to climb a flight of stairs for the darshan of Maa Tara Tarini, but now a ropeway and beautiful road have been built to reach the shrine.
Prasad Sevan Hall, Interpretation Centre, Meditation Centre, Rest Area, Food Kiosk, Drinking Water, Shoe Stand, Foot Wash, Waiting Area, Barrier Free Accessibility, Seating Benches, Rest Shed, Watch Tower, Police Outpost, First Aid Centre, etc. have been built at a cost of around Rs 115 crore for the benefit of devotees.
