Mata Sheetla temple opens with grandeur at village in Kangra

The ‘devbhoomi’ of Himachal Pradesh echoed with devotion as a new temple dedicated to Panjpiri Mata Sheetla Devi was inaugurated at the Art of Living Kailash Ashram in Gujreheda near Gopalpur, Kangra district, on Tuesday. Spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar performed the consecration rituals, following age-old traditions, amid the presence of priests and hundreds of followers who travelled from across India and abroad for the occasion.

The statue of Mata Sheetla Devi was ceremonially installed inside the temple, built in classical South Indian architectural style, with the sacred ‘kalash’ placed at precisely 4:15 am, symbolising the formal beginning of the temple’s spiritual life. The atmosphere brimmed with reverence as devotees witnessed the consecration at dawn.

To mark the inauguration, the Kailash Ashram is hosting a four-day bhajan and satsang festival from November 18 to 21. The evening gatherings, starting at 5.30 pm, are expected to draw devotees into collective prayer, music and meditation.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar highlighted the unique alignment of the new Panjpiri Sheetla Mata temple with the Aadi Himani Chamunda Temple and underlined the value of spiritual practice in daily life. “Deities are not distant, they dwell within each of us,” he reminded followers. He also announced plans to establish an Osteopathy College in Himachal Pradesh to offer local youth new avenues for livelihood by blending traditional wisdom with modern healing systems.

Later in the day, CM Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu visited the temple, offered prayers and lit the ceremonial lamp. Calling the ashram’s presence in the Dhauladhar foothills a matter of pride, he said it would inspire and energise seekers from around the world.