- Governor Attends Pran Pratistha Ceremony of Newly Built Shiva Temple in Dhekiajuli

Sonitpur (Assam), 08 February (HS): Assam Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya on Sunday attended the Pran Pratistha ceremony of a newly constructed Shiva temple at the Hindu Vedic Kshetra in Dhekiajuli, Sonitpur district, in the presence of Health and Family Welfare Minister Ashok Singhal.

Addressing the gathering, Governor Acharya said participating in the Pran Pratistha ceremony on the historic land of Dhekiajuli was a moment of immense joy and spiritual fulfillment for him. He remarked that Assam has always been a land deeply enriched with cultural heritage and spiritual consciousness.

The Governor said the spiritual teachings of Mahapurush Srimanta Sankardeva and Sri Sri Madhavdeva have kept Assam’s social fabric vibrant, while the ancient Shaivite tradition has continued to flourish across the region. He added that devotion to Lord Shiva is deeply ingrained in the spiritual lives of the people, and the newly consecrated temple stands as a symbol of this enduring faith.

Highlighting the significance of Pran Pratistha, Governor Acharya said the ritual invokes divine energy into the deity and reminds individuals to awaken their inner consciousness through values, discipline and righteous conduct. Such sacred occasions, he noted, inspire both spiritual growth and collective social harmony.

Referring to the historical importance of Sonitpur, the Governor said the region was once the capital of the great devotee of Lord Shiva, King Banasura, and has remained a prominent centre of Shaivite worship for centuries. He also mentioned revered pilgrimage sites such as the Mahabhairav Temple in Tezpur and the Gupteshwar Mahadev Temple in Dhekiajuli as enduring symbols of this vibrant spiritual tradition.

The Governor further said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India is reconnecting with its eternal Sanatan heritage through landmark projects such as Kashi Vishwanath Dham, Kedarnath, Badrinath, Somnath and Ayodhya, reflecting a broader spiritual and cultural renaissance.

Appreciating the role of Minister Ashok Singhal, Governor Acharya said the temple, whose construction began in 2022, is the result of his visionary approach and commitment to cultural values. He added that temples serve not only as places of worship but also as centres of social unity, moral education and collective harmony.

The programme was attended by MP Ranjit Dutta, Assam Chief Secretary Dr Ravi Kota, National General Secretary of Akhil Bharatiya Sant Samiti Swami Jitendranand Saraswati, Chief Priest of Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple, Varanasi, Dr Shrikant Mishra, VHP National General Secretary Ashok Yadav, along with several other dignitaries.---------

Hindusthan Samachar / Sriprakash