Photo Credit The Suncity News & Social Media.
Patna, August 8, 2025: Friday is set to be a historic day for Mithila as Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar jointly lay the foundation stone for the Grand Mata Janaki temple at Punaura Dham in Sitamarhi.
Amit Shah will arrive at Darbhanga Airport from New Delhi at 1 p.m., then travel by helicopter to Punaira Dham.
The temple, inspired by the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, will be built on 67 acres at the cost of Rs 882.87 crore and is scheduled for completion by August 2028.
Amit Shah and Nitish Kumar will do the traditional Bhoomi Pujan:
The Bhoomi Pujan will take place between 1.55 p.m. and 3.15 p.m. with full Vedic rituals.
Six Acharyas—three from Mithila University and three from Kashi University—will lead the ceremony, accompanied by chanting and offerings.
Renounced saints from across the country will be in attendance.
Following the rituals, Amit Shah will interact with the saints for a few minutes, accept offerings, and receive blessings.
Both Amit Shah and Nitish Kumar will then address devotees at a massive pandal with seating for 50,000 people.
Political and religious significance:
The event is seen as a major religious and cultural milestone for Mithila, while also carrying political weight ahead of the 2025 Bihar Assembly election.
Nitish Kumar’s presence is being read as a signal of NDA unity.
In addition to the temple project, Amit Shah will inaugurate and lay the foundation stones for several other schemes, and flag off the Sitamarhi—Delhi Amrit Bharat Express, the fourth such service between Delhi and Bihar, which will run weekly.
Also Read: Mata Janaki temple in Punurdham will transform Mithila into a global cultural and religious hub.
EOM.