Chief Minister Shri Narendrabhai Modi today described the ongoing 'abhishek' of Mahatma Mandir as a historic event to unite people from all over the world in love with Gujarat.

Appreciating the sarpanchs bringing soil and water in 'kalash' from respective villages and municipalities, he said there might be many instances of building modern and majestic memorials, but this one is unique as it links the man of the millennium with the feelings of the common man.

He exuded confidence this societal strength of Gujarat would become a collective strength of the state. He wished the prize scheme introduced for clean and healthy villages would encourage the sarpanchs lead from the front the campaign for rural uplift.

He listed the Rs.500-crore project to empower rural women through one lakh 'Sakhi Mandals', the 'Garib Kalyan Mela' to make the poor self-reliant and the 'Krishi Mahotsav' to make farmers prosperous as some of the projects the government has taken up for the welfare of the people.

Even as Shri Modi decided to remain present everyday through the 14-day 'abishek', he received sarpanchs from over 1,400 villages today.

Speaking on the occasion, Agriculture Minister Shri Dilipbhai Sanghani said that the Mahatma Mandir, being built with the efforts of the people from all the villages across the state, foretells a bright future.

Minister of State for Education Shri Jaysinh Chauhan said the Mahatma Mandir would also fulfill another dream of the Mahatma to spread education in all sections of the society. The function was attended by other ministers, MLAs, senior officers and a large number of people.