The Madhya Pradesh government, led by the Bharatiya Janata Party, has erected a statue of Mata Shabari at Sitamadhi Dham in Shahdol district. This initiative aims to uphold the religious and cultural significance linked with Lord Ram. Chief Minister Mohan Yadav is scheduled to reveal the statue at a formal ceremony on Sunday, with the presence of tribal community members and local representatives. Sitamadhi Dham, situated in Gandhiya village near the Chhattisgarh border, holds historical importance as a resting place for Lord Ram during his exile journey from Ayodhya to Lanka.
According to legend, Lord Ram, along with Mata Sita and Lakshman, halted at 248 renowned spots, including Gandhiya village in Shahdol district, on his way from Ayodhya to Lanka. Before entering Dandakaranya, the trio rested in Gandhiya village near the Madhya Pradesh–Chhattisgarh border, where Mata Sita’s Rasoi and a Ram Temple are located. In the Koriya district, caves are believed to have provided shelter to Lord Ram, Sita, and Lakshman during their exile, a site acknowledged on the Ram Van Gaman Path in Chhattisgarh.
The Ram Van Gaman Path, a 2,260 km Hindu pilgrimage route retracing Lord Ram, Sita, and Lakshmana’s 14-year exile from Ayodhya to Sri Lanka, encompasses more than 248 significant locations. Noteworthy development projects in Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh are underway to boost tourism and safeguard cultural heritage within the Dandakaranya forest region. Chief Minister Yadav is set to inaugurate and lay the foundation for development projects worth over Rs 767 crore during the event. Additionally, he will distribute appointment letters to 15 individuals affected by land acquisition by South Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL).
Subsequently, Chief Minister Yadav will distribute forest rights titles to women in self-help groups under the Rural Livelihood Mission. He will also extend relief aid to beneficiaries impacted by accidents or fatalities.
