Looking closely at the revival of ancient temples, development of the corridors and highways, and introduction of initiatives like Char Dham yatra and SWADES, among others, one can gauge the emotion and the intention of the government, which has been pursuing the goals of conserving and restoring the neglected traditional values and cultural heritage of the nation.
The government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi brought a fresh wave of unprecedented cultural renaissance that not only took the whole nation by storm but also propelled the youth and the old alike towards devotion, spirituality, and faith.
It was in 2014 that the government took its first steps towards preserving and restoring Bharat's civilizational values. After PM Modi began his journey by performing the Ganga Aarti on the ghats of Varanasi, there has been no turning back.
There have been innumerable projects which have been revamped or redeveloped over the course of the last ten years. Be it the laying of the foundation stone of the Ram temple in August 2020 or the inauguration of the transformed Mahakaleshwar Jyotirling Temple in Ujjain, PM Modi has always managed to link the people of the nation with the faith along with preserving the sanctity of the traditions and the nation's civilizational values.
Along with Kedarnath, the Modi government took the initiative of linking the four sites of Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath through the Char Dham Pariyojana under which the construction of all-weather roads connecting the four pilgrimage sites have been taken up. In another project, the government has planned to link Rishikesh with Karnaprayag via a railway line, which is likely to be operational by 2025.
In 2017, PM Modi unveiled the 112-feet-tall lord Adiyogi Shiva statue in Coimbatore and brought yoga to the fore, bringing together the nation's citizens to build a better and spiritually healthy Bharat.
In 2021, a revamped Kashi Vishwanath Dham in Varanasi was inaugurated by Narendra Modi. PM Modi also inaugurated the Somnath seaside promenade, and his government led the initiative to reconstruct the temple precinct of Old (Juna) Somnath.
The year 2022 saw many landmark achievements in the cultural sphere. The unveiling of the 216-feet-tall Statue of Equality in Hyderabad commemorating the 11th-century Bhakti Saint Ramanujacharya and PM Modi's visit to Pavagadh Hill in Gujarat, along with laying the foundation stone of a redeveloped temple of the Kalika Mata.
Recently, in 2024, another project was launched by PM Modi, Kamakhya Divyalok Pariyojana, a project aimed at boosting tourism in Assam.
Prime Minister Modi has also initiated the establishment of temples abroad, not just in Bharat alone. In 2018, he unveiled the inaugural Hindu temple in Abu Dhabi. A year later, he initiated the revitalization project for the 200-year-old Lord Sri Krishna Shreenathji temple in Bahrain. Prime Minister Modi is set to inaugurate the Swaminarayan temple of the Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha, a Hindu temple in Abu Dhabi, in February 2024.
Sanatana Dharma has been the bedrock of India's resilience throughout periods of subjugation and colonization. PM Narendra Modi has often been seen discussing the importance of the virtues of Sanatan Dharma, and his government is committed to preserving its timeless essence and spiritual vitality. By preserving the cultural significance of the holy places associated with Indian heritage, the government has time and again proved to be the protector of our heritage, traditions, culture and Sanatan dharma.
Because of the tremendous efforts set forth by the government under PM Modi, Kashi, a.k.a Varanasi, which was once only the centre of spiritual awakening, has now become a focal point for economic development. Prior to 2021, the Kashi Vishwanath Temple occupied merely an area of around 3,000 square feet. The temple complex spans 500,000 square feet, presenting a marvellous example of temple grandeur and construction.
Since December 2021, when the inauguration of the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor took place, approximately 69 lakh people visited the Kashi Vishwanath temple. However, in the following year, this number soared to 13 crores. Within these two years, the influx of devotees here has increased by 20 times. The figures also reveal that in 2022, there was an increase of approximately Rs 1.3 lakh crores in the economy around worship places in India, compared to Rs 65,070 crores in 2021.
Varanasi leads in terms of tourist numbers, while other temple cities like Ayodhya, Mathura, and Ujjain are not far behind. The data also indicates that in 2022, there was a rise of approximately Rs 1.3 lakh crores in the economy associated with places of worship in India, compared to Rs 65,070 crores in 2021.
Varanasi today, because of the government's endeavours, emerges as the frontrunner in terms of tourist footfall, while other temple cities such as Ayodhya, Mathura, and Ujjain are closely trailing behind. Regarding religious tourism, the data provided by the Ministry of Tourism holds considerable importance. In 2022, the collective revenue generated from temples stood at Rs 1.34 lakh crores, marking a significant surge from approximately Rs 65 thousand crores in 2021. This signifies a twofold increase in earnings from pilgrimage destinations within just one year, in contrast to Rs 50,136 crore in 2020, Rs 211,661 crore in 2019, and Rs 194,881 crore in 2018.
The government has been successful in its goal of reviving India's cultural heritage, which had since been long neglected by previous governments. PM Modi has become the beacon of hope and the torchbearer of cultural awakening, getting acclaimed not only by the people of the nation but across the world.
