The sacred Shaligram Shila, procured from Nepal for the construction of the Kedarnath-themed Dudheshwar Mahadev Temple in Etawah, Uttar Pradesh, was ceremoniously welcomed on Tuesday. Present at the auspicious occasion were prominent figures including Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav, his wife and MP Dimple Yadav, Rajya Sabha MP Jaya Bachchan, and senior SP leader Shivpal Singh Yadav.

Senior SP leaders, participating in the ritual, disclosed that the Shaligram Shila would be utilized to sculpt a ‘Shivling’, which will adorn the temple, expected to be one of the most majestic in Etawah.

Akhilesh Yadav expressed, “On this auspicious occasion, we welcome ‘Shaligram Bhagwan’. We hope Shaligram Bhagwan will bring prosperity and luck to the people of our state and the entire country.”

Providing details about the Shaligram Shila, Yadav mentioned that it measures 7 feet in height, 6 feet in width, and weighs 13 tonnes. He acknowledged the individuals responsible for bringing the Shaligram from Nepal, Shrimadhi Botta and Kripashankan from Jaunpur, emphasizing that such rare Shilas are exclusively found in the Kali Gandaki river of Nepal, often referred to as Devshilas.

The ceremonial puja took place at the SP Headquarters in Lucknow amidst the resonating chants of ‘Har Har Mahadev’. Notable attendees included State party president Naresh Uttar Patel, former UP Assembly Speaker Mata Prasad Pandey, and Chief Whip in Assembly Manoj Pandey.

Mata Prasad Pandey affirmed, “The Shaligram would be used to carve out a Shivling, which would be placed in the temple.”

Spanning approximately 10 acres, the Dudheshwar Mahadev Temple promises to be a grand addition to the cultural and spiritual landscape of Uttar Pradesh.