Revive historical shrines in Jalandhar, Sushil Rinku urges minister

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, August 9

With a view to reviving historical, religious and cultural places of the district and bringing Jalandhar on the tourism circuit, former MP and BJP leader Sushil Rinku has envisaged a plan.

Rinku handed over a demand letter to Union Culture and Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat while also extending him an invite to visit the city. Rinku told him that Jalandhar district was a storehouse of the ancient culture and heritage.

“The historical places like the Vrinda Devi Cave Temple, Siddha Shakti Peeth Maa Annapurna Temple and Imam Nasir Dargah need to be revived”, the ex-MP told him. Rinku said the cave temple is located in Mohalla Kot Kishan Chand.

“It is believed that there was an ancient cave here, which went straight to Haridwar. Vrinda Devi had ended her life by suicide here when her chastity was violated by Lord Vishnu. Tulsi plant was born in her ashes. A special gathering is held in this temple on Tulsi marriage”, he said. As the history goes, there was an old pond outside the boundary wall of this place which touched the Annapurna temple and bordered Brahmakund on one side.

Even today, stairs made of old small bricks are built here. Amla Pujan and Tulsi Pujan ceremony/fair is organised every year in the temple.

Rinku has taken up the issue that to promote religious tourism and it was important to construct a paved road to reach and renovate the temple.

Rinku also discussed the ancient temple of Siddha Shakti Peeth Maa Annapurna in Mohalla Kot Kishan Chand in Jalandhar which is thousands’ years old and finds a mention in the Puranas. A huge fair is held here from Kartik Shukla Ashtami (Gopashtami) to Kartik Purnima. Lakhs of devotees come to the temple from far and wide.

The BJP leader said to reach here, one had to pass through narrow lanes and there was no proper passage. The temple trust too had been demanding that a link road be built connecting these temples, so that devotees could have darshan conveniently. Rinku also asked the Union Minister for the development of the historic Imam Nasir of Jalandhar.

Rinku said Imam Nasir Dargah located in the middle of the city was claimed to be about 1150-year old and is highly revered by the Muslims.