New Delhi: Amidst the wave of modernity, many Hindu temples have slowly slipped into obscurity and got ‘disconnected’ with bhakts, despite their glorious & rich heritage. Now, an ambitious project has been launched by Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) to impress upon devotees about these temples with rich past and also about its age-old customs and religious practices & traditions.
Under the project named ‘Jaane Apne Mandir’ or ‘Know Your Temples’, a website is being prepared that will serve as an all-encompassing guide for more than 300 temples, their history, pooja vidhi & associated customs, if any.
It will have details of how people can reach those temples, which festivals see maximum gathering of devotees. A video presentation will also be attached to all these temples for hands-on information on the temple, ranging from its history to present situation.
As per reports, Haryana will be the seat for this pilot project and many notable temples have been identified for listing, documentation of over 300 temples is said to have been completed. A couple of temples from Delhi & Chandigarh will also be included in the list. Haryana’s temples like Chameli Van Hanuman Temple of Hodal and Pandav Van Temple of Nuh are mentioned in the list. Chandigarh’s Old Shiv Temple finds special mention while Delhi –based temples like Vishweshwar Temple in Connaught Place and Yogmaya temple in South Delhi are also noted for listing on the portal.
A formal launch of this digital initiative will be done on June 27 (Tuesday), which will see gathering of many Sanatan Dharma gurus, along with BJP MPs & Union Minister of State Ashwini Choubey.
VHP General Secretary Milind Parande, who has been vocal against government control of temples, will be the keynote speaker at the event while Panipat’s Prem Mandir chief Sri Sri Kanta Maharaj will be the special guest.
The event will be presided over by Biplab Deb, Ex-Tripura CM & BJP’s Haryana in-charge. Mr Deb has been charting out party’s strategy in the state ahead of Assembly elections while also hammering out differences with coalition partner Jannayak Janata Party (JJP).
The event is being organised at Delhi’s NDMC Convention Centre. Former wrestler & BJP MP Babita Phgat is also said to be attending ‘Know Your Mandir’ program.
Is it attempt to divert attention from grapplers stir?
As the pilot project is being launched from Haryana, a couple of political observers saw a motive behind this ‘saffron project’. They believe that the Haryana govt is facing ‘ouster’ from power this time, owing to anti-incumbency, anger over wrestles stir and disillusionment due to farmers agitation and therefore this was a carefully thought-out move by the BJP to divert attention & deflate blame on many burning issues.
Also, the project being launched from Haryana raised many questions.
However, Sanjay Mishra, spearheading the ‘Know Your Temples’ project dismissed any relation between the two and said that it was unfair to connect the project with Haryana polls.