Nepal

Janaki temple to get new look soon

Janaki temple to get new look soon

By Rastriya Samachar Samiti

Janaki Mandir, a Hindu temple dedicated to goddess Sita, which India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit on Friday, is reflected in a puddle, in Janakpur, Nepal May 10, 2018. Photo: Reuters

Janakpur, July 10 Now the famous Hindu temple in Janakpur — Janaki temple — will be decorated in a modern style yet keeping intact its aesthetic values and decked up with lights in a bid to add more value to this important ancient temple. An agreement was signed between the Non-Resident Nepali Association President Bhawan Bhatta and Janaki temple’s Chut Guthi’s Chote Mahantha Ram Roshan Das yesterday to this effect. They signed the agreement in the presence of Chief Minister of Province 2 Lal Babu Raut and NRNA’s Chief Patron Dr Upendra Mahato and Janakpur Sub-metropolitan City Mayor Lal Kishor Shah, among others. The beautification and illumination of the temple dedicated to Goddess Sita will be concluded at a cost of Rs 50 million. According to the agreement, LED lights provided by Ujjyalo Nepal campaign will be installed in various places in the temple and its premises keeping in view the nominal consumption of electricity. NRNA President Bhatta said that from the sustainability viewpoint, solar-powered lights will be installed to contribute to illumination of the temple. He, however, informed that no changes will be made in the historical and unique physical infrastructure of the three-storey temple that is itself an example of perfect artistry. The Temple is built in a mixed style of Islamic and Rajput domes entirely with stones and marbles in the 20th century. According to Bhatta, the NRNA will bear all the expenses of the electrification process of the temple and the decoration and electrification process will be carried out before Vivah Panchami. Thousands of pilgrims from in and out of the country visit the temple during Vivah Panchami, the major annual festival here, when the marriage of Sita and Ram is celebrated with various re-enactments. A buoyed Chote Mahantha Ram Roshan Das said that Janakpur folks are very happy with this latest move. He said, “I am confident that the Janaki temple will look like a shiny castle once the electrification process takes place.” Indian Queen Vrisha Bhanu of the Indian State of Tikamgarhm constructed this temple in 1910.