Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan performed the Shila Pujan of the grand Devi Lok of Vijayasan Mata to be built at Salkanpur at a cost of Rs 211 crore today. He said that it is the responsibility of the government to promote religion and culture, which connects people, along with the works of development.

About one lakh devotees witnessed the bhoomi-pujan of the grand Devi Lok construction in Salkanpur in the presence of sadhus, saints, mahants and priests from all over the country. In-charge Minister Dr. Prabhuram Chowdhary, Agriculture Minister Kamal Patel along with MLAs, Chief Minister’s wife Sadhana Singh, son Kartikeya Singh Chouhan were also present in the programme.

Chouhan along with a huge gathering also sang the stuti of Salkanpur Mata. He said that it is due to the blessings of the Mata that the government decided to enact a law for rapists and award them death penalty.

The Chief Minister said that the state government is working on a grand Devi Lok with the Mata’s blessings. It is due to Mata’s blessings that the government initiated the Mukhyamantri Ladli Bahna Yojana for the honour of women and to meet their small requirements. Considering the honour of women as the topmost priority of the government, he said that many schemes including Ladli Lakshmi and Mukhya Mantri Kanya Vivah have been implemented for women empowerment.

Chouhan told that along with the temple structures, replicas of 64 yogini, nine forms of Navdurga, Devi Mahatma, Durga Saptashati and various Shaktipeeths and verses will be engraved in the Mata’s temple premises with Rs 166 crore. The Chief Minister also offered prayers to the water and holy soil from all the Shaktipeeths of the country besides the Shilas. All these materials will be used in the construction of Devi Lok. He informed that construction work will be undertaken under the temple at a cost of Rs 45 crore for the convenience of the devotees. The Chief Minister sought the blessings of Mata and the saints for the happiness and prosperity of the state. MP Vidisha Ramakant Bhargava addressed the people.

Earlier, Chouhan visited the Devi Lok exhibition in Salkanpur and the model of Mahadevi Lok under construction. He visited the replica of Mata Vijayasan Temple built at the stage site.