Prime Minister Narendra Modi offers prayers at Kedarnath Temple in Uttarakhand on November 05, 2021. (PIB)
Kedarnath: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on November 5, 2021, laid foundation stones and dedicated to the Nation various development projects in Kedarnath.
He also reviewed and inspected the executed and ongoing infrastructure works.
The Prime Minister inaugurated Shri Adi Shankaracharya Samadhi and unveiled the statue of Shri Adi Shankaracharya.
He also offered prayers at the Kedarnath Temple. Prayers were offered and celebrations held at 12 Jyotirlingas and 4 dhams and many places of faith all over the country along with the event at Kedarnath Dham, all events were linked to the main event at Kedarnath Dham.
Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister evoked the great spiritual rishi (saint) tradition of India and expressed his indescribable joy on coming to Kedarnath Dham.
The Prime Minister said that new facilities like shelters, facilitation centres will ease the lives of priests and devotees and allow them to fully immerse in the divine experience of the pilgrimage.
Recalling the Kedarnath floods in 2013, the Prime Minister noted that damage caused by the floods years ago was unimaginable.
“People who used to come here used to think that will our Kedar Dham stand up again? But my inner voice was saying that it will stand with more pride than ever before,” PM Modi said.
The Prime Minister said due to the grace of Lord Kedar and inspiration of Adi Shankaracharya and his experience of managing the aftermath of the Bhuj Earthquake, he could be of help in those difficult times.
“Shri Adi Shankaracharya Samadhi has been reconstructed after the destruction in the 2013 floods. The entire reconstruction work has been undertaken under the guidance of the Prime Minister, who has constantly reviewed and monitored the progress of the project,” the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) informed in a release.
Talking about Adi Shankaracharya, PM Modi said his life was as extraordinary as it was devoted to the welfare of the common man.
“The Indian philosophy talks about human welfare and looks at life in a holistic way. Adi Shankaracharya did the work of making the society aware of this truth,” he said.
PM Modi said that Ayodhya is getting its glory back as a grand temple of Lord Shri Ram is coming up in Ayodhya.
Maintaining that today’s India is confident about its heritage, PM Modi said, “Today, India sets tough goals and deadlines for itself. Today, it is not acceptable for India to be timid about deadlines and goals.”
The Prime Minister said that the third decade of the 21st century belongs to Uttarakhand.
“Work is going on at a fast pace on the Chardham road project, connecting with the Chardham highways. The work has started so that devotees can come here to Kedarnath ji through cable car in future. There is also the holy Hemkund Sahib Ji nearby. Work is going on to build a ropeway to make the darshan in Hemkund Sahib ji easy.”
The Prime Minister noted that the State government is involved with full dedication for Uttarakhand’s development.
The Prime Minister reviewed and inspected the executed and ongoing works along the Saraswati Aasthapath. Key infrastructure projects that have been completed, including Saraswati Retaining Wall Aasthapath and Ghats, Mandakini Retaining Wall Aasthapath, Tirth Purohit Houses, and Garud Chatti bridge on river Mandakini, the release said.
It added that the projects have been completed at a cost of over Rs. 130 crore. He also laid the foundation stone for multiple projects worth over Rs 180 crore, including the Redevelopment of Sangam Ghat, First Aid and Tourist Facilitation Centre, Admin Office and Hospital, two Guest Houses, Police Station, Command & Control Centre, Mandakini Aasthapath Queue Management and Rainshelter and Saraswati Civic Amenity Building. (Press Release)
