The foundation stone Janaki temple was laid down by Amit Shah in Sitamarhi.

Patna. August 8, 2025: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday laid the foundation stone for the redevelopment of the historic Janaki Temple at Punauradham in Sitamarhi district, believed to be the birthplace of Goddess Sita.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, several Union ministers including Chirag Paswan, Giriraj Singh, Deputy CM Samrat Choudhary, Vijay Kumar Sinha and other dignitaries were present at the ceremony.

The Bihar government also sanctioned funds for the old Janaki temple:

The Rs. 882.87 crore project was approved by the Bihar cabinet on July 1 and will be implemented by the Bihar State Tourism Development Corporation (BSTDC).

“It includes Rs. 137 crore for the restoration of the old temple and its premises, Rs. 728 crore for tourism-related infrastructure and Rs. 16 crore for comprehensive 10-year maintenance.

A nine-member trust, chaired by the Bihar Chief Secretary, has been set up to oversee the redevelopment.

The foundation stone ceremony saw elaborate religious preparations:

Sacred soil from 21 pilgrimage sites and water from 31 rivers, along with offerings from temples across the country, were brought to the site.

A specially crafted silver urn from Jaipur, silver worship utensils from Delhi, and Prasad from renowned South Indian temples were also part of the rituals.

Religious leaders, saints, storytellers, and Vedic scholars from across India, including representatives from the Mahamandaleshwar Akhand Sant Samiti and heads of major monasteries, attended the event.

Also Read: Mata Janaki temple in Punurdham will transform Mithila into a global cultural and religious hub.

EOM.