Sambalpur: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik will be inaugurating Samaleswari Temple Area Management and Local Economy Initiatives (SAMALEI) project in Odisha’s Sambalpur town on Saturday.
This comes 10 days after a religious and political spectacle in Puri which saw the grand unveiling of Srimandir Parikrama Prakalpa, strategically timed with the Ram Temple consecration in Ayodhya. The SAMALEI project in western Odisha, which is considered a BJP stronghold, is expected to witness an equally magnificent opening, ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s official tour to the town in the first week of February. And this temple gambit by the BJD is being seen as an attempt to outmanoeuvre the BJP in the state and counter its Hindutva push ahead of the twin elections.
The 16th-century Samaleswari Temple, the abode of the presiding deity of the western Odisha, on the banks of the Mahanadi has seen remarkable transformation over 39 acre of its peripheral area under Rs 200-crore project, which include a 1km heritage corridor, heritage gates, improvement of access to the temple, and state-of-the-art amenities for the pilgrims. Development of Mahanadi river front is also part of the project.
The SAMALEI scheme is being implemented by the Odisha Bridge and Construction Corporation (OBCC).
In an address to people of Odisha, the CM on Friday said that Odisha will always remember those who volunteered to forego their lands for this project. “This project could be completed because of the blessings of Maa Samaleswari despite the hurdles during the COVID-19 pandemic,” he further said, while elaborating on the purpose behind the transformative improvement of the shrine.
Besides providing devotees and people an experience of peace and divine bliss, Naveen said that it will help boost tourism and economy of the region. “Now, thousands of devotees can congregate at the ghat to witness Mahanadi Alati,” he added.
ମାଁ ସମଲେଇ ହେଉଛନ୍ ଆମର୍ ସମକର୍ ଇଷ୍ଟଦେବୀ। ସବୁ ଲୁକର୍ ଆସ୍ଥା ଆର୍ ବିଶ୍ବାସ୍ ର କେନ୍ଦ୍ରବିନ୍ଦୁ। ସେ ଜଗତ୍ ଜନନୀ ମାଁର୍ କୃପା ଆର୍ ସବୁ ଲୋକମାନକର୍ ଭାବ୍-ବିଶ୍ବାସ୍ କେ ସମ୍ମାନ୍ ଜନେଇକରି ମାଁ ସମଲେଇ ପୀଠ୍ ନୂଆଁ ରୂପ୍ ପାଇଛେ। ଯେନ୍ ଲୋକମାନେ ଇ ସମଲେଇ ପ୍ରକଳ୍ପର୍ ଲାଗି ନିଜର୍ ଜମିକେ ତ୍ୟାଗ୍ କରିଦେଇଛନ୍ ସେମାନେ ସବୁବେଲେ ସୋର୍… pic.twitter.com/1y7Km1ENHT
— Naveen Patnaik (@Naveen_Odisha) January 26, 2024
The days leading to the project inauguration here also saw an yajna by the temple priests and ceremonial rituals, which culminated with a Kalash Shobha Yatra to Samaleswari Temple in which more than 1000 women participated on Friday. The water brought during the Yatra will be used for holy bath of the deity, Samaleswari Temple Trust Board chairman Sanja Babu had earlier told the media.
Earlier this month, Samaleswari Temple Trust Board president and priests had visited Naveen Niwas to invite the CM for the inauguration. He is expected to arrive here and inaugurate the project at 12.30 pm.
A total of 35 platoons of forces with 150 police officers will be deployed in the town on the occasion to maintain law and order.
Schools and colleges will also observe a holiday on Saturday.
Notably, the Samaleswari Temple was constructed by Balram Dev, the first Chouhan king of Sambalpur. The shrine has been constructed in proto-Nagra style.
