What TV doesn't, print can't; we deliver.
What TV doesn't, print can't; we deliver.
Mayur Nirmane and Dinesh Khatri’s happiness knows no bounds. They witnessed the complete makeover of Ujjain’s Mahakaleshwar temple inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi with great fun and fervour on Tuesday.
While Mayur is an auto driver, Dinesh sells t-shirts in the city to make ends meet. With the unveiling of the first phase of the ‘Mahakal Lok’ corridor, which they describe as “unimaginable”, they expect their lives to change for the better.
“We feel very proud on the very fact that the corridor is finally getting inaugurated,” says Mayur, who describes the transformation of prominent Hindu religious sites under Prime Minister Narendra Modi as an “accomplishment” India will be known for.
He expects that the project will not add to the spiritual importance of Ujjain city, but also help generate more employment opportunities for locals.
“Baba Mahakal will ensure income generation and business as tourist footfall grows”, says Mayur, elated.
As per government estimates, the tourist footfall will grow by twofold to nearly 3 crores per year in the Shiva temple after the completion of the project.
“What I liked the most in the new corridor is the Saptrishi murals. What has been done in the construction of this corridor is unimaginable,” Dinesh, the t-shirt seller, exclaims.
As per the government plans, the temple precincts will grow by seven folds when the Rs 850-crore project is finally completed. The Shivraj Singh Chouhan-led BJP government in Madhya Pradesh expects that the project, which also aims to conserve heritage in the temple complex, will not boost religious tourism in the city but in surrounding areas as well.
The newly-built corridor is 900-meter long and is spread around Rudrasagar Lake. It is part of the Modi government’s ambitious plan to redevelop 12 Jyotirlingas in the country with full glory. It is one of the largest religious corridors.
Two grand murals adorn the majestic gateway of the corridor – the Nandi Dwar and the Pinaki Dwar at the entry point of the corridor. The Anand Tandav Swaroop (a dance form) of Shiva is also one of its main attractions. It has 108 pillars in line with Vedic cosmology. The number 108, believed to be the basis of human creation, represents the universe and its existence. The mural wall is based on the story of Shiva Purana.
Speaking on the occasion, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the renovation reflects the timelessness of India’s spiritual energy that sustained the country through the period of slavery and colonisation.
