Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal offers prayers at Sri Surya Pahar

A Correspondent

Goalpara: Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Sunday visited the Sri Surya Pahar of East Goalpara and offered prayer, besides participating in a holy Bishnu Yagya.

The Chief Minister was accompanied by State BJP president Ranjit Dass and his press adviser Hrishikesh Goswami. “We have prayed not only for Assam but for world peace here in Surya Pahar,” said the Chief Minister. “If we can dedicate ourselves with a disciplined approach and hard labour, the Assamese society is sure to bring a change and shine in the world as a strong and developed Assamese race,” he added.

This is the first time that any Chief Minister visited the holy Sri Surya Pahar which is treated as the Ajanta Elora of the East. It is claimed that the archaeological site has 99,999 Shiva Lingas.

Answering a question on the preservation and development of Sri Surya Pahar, Sonowal said, “We have already given Rs 55 lakh, which is not sufficient for such a large area. So, I have asked the archaeological department to come up with a detailed proposal.”

On the other hand, talking separately to media persons, Hrishikesh Goswami said, “We are happy to see such a large crowd attending the programme and also happier to find an AASU gate welcoming all devotees.”

Earlier, the Goalpara district administration finished all the necessary arrangements for the visit of the Chief Minister as well as for the lakhs of devotees who will throng the site during this Maghi Purnima week.

“Deputy Commissioner Varnali Deka has been personally looking after the entire arrangement for the Chief Minister’s programme and liasioning with the Pahar committee since several days,” said a committee office bearer.

On Sunday, MLAs Dipak Kr. Rabha, AK Rasid Alom and Abdur Rasid Mondal accompanied the Chief Minister. The Sri Surya Pahar is a sacred site not only for the Hindus but also for the Buddhists and Jains and every year lakhs of devotees visit Surya Pahar and offer prayers. The Sri Surya Pahar temple committee arranges every year a week-long Maghi Purnima festivity and Bishnu Yagya during the full moon week of Assamese Magh month. This year the festive week began on Saturday.

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