Bhubaneswar, July 10: Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Monday held a meeting with Uttrakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, actor couple Sabyasachi Mishra and Archita Sahu and Puri Jagannath Temple’s Chhatisha Nijog chief Janardhan Pattajoshi Mohapatra via video conferencing over the development of a centuries old Jagannath Temple in Sald village in Uttarkashi.
The centuries old Jagannath Temple, which was lying neglected for years after it was brought to limelight by Odia actors Sabyasachi and Archita recently.
Union Minister Pradhan urged the Uttarkhand CM to take initiatives for the development of the centuries old Jagannath Temple. He also praised the actor couple for bringing the ancient temple to limelight.
“The temple will be developed under our on-going Mandirmala project,” said Uttrakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami.
The couple visited the temple on Bahuda Yatra of Lord Jagannath last week and joined the villagers in resuming prayers in the temple, located at 4000 ft above sea level amidst picturesque villages that has the potential to attract many Jagannath devotees.
The historical temple, which was originally inaugurated by the revered Adi Shankaracharya, had long been overlooked by local villagers, authorities, and pilgrims alike.
According to actor Sabyasachi, Janardhan Pattajoshi Mohapatra, one of the chief priests of Jagannath Temple in Puri informed him about this temple last year with an aim to bring it to public attention.
Due to financial constraints the villagers stopped doing daily rituals of the deities. The Jagannath Idols in the temple are considered as their ancestral deity (Kul Devta) and worshipped in special occasions.
