Jammu, Jan 21: In a remarkable demonstration of dedication to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call for nationwide cleanliness of temples under the ‘Swachh Teerth Abhiyan’, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) J&K Executive Member Raman Suri spearheaded a massive cleanliness drive Sunday morning.
Suri was accompanied by Dr Vinod Sharma, the Health Officer at Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC). The focus area of the drive was the newly built Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple, renowned as the Tirupati Balaji Temple at Majeen, Jammu, and the Mahamaya Temple, Jammu, situated on a scenic hillock behind the majestic Bahu Fort with a panoramic view of River Tawi.
Raman Suri, joined by his party colleagues and JMC health department staff, personally engaged in tasks such as mopping floors, sweeping entrances, and maintaining the walkways. Emphasizing that this initiative is a part of the ‘Swachhata Abhiyan,’ he highlighted Prime Minister Modi’s exemplary start to the campaign at Maharashtra’s Shree Kalaram Temple, inspiring billions of people to embrace cleanliness as a way of life.
The BJP leader, along with temple management officials, JMC team members, team of Project Management Unit (PMU), and enthusiastic devotees, dedicated the efforts to picking up trash, clearing dried leaves, sweeping compounds, and beautifying entrances. The collective aim was to ensure that the temple premises not only achieve cleanliness but also become aesthetically pleasing for devotees who will be gathering here tomorrow to watch the “Shri Ram Mandir Consecration Ceremony”, recite bhajans and offer their obeisances.
Knowing that it will not be possible for everyone, including the devotees and those interested in seeing the newly-built Shri Ram temple at Ayodhya, to reach there on Monday, it was decided that people will gather for the consecration ceremony of the Shri Ram Mandir on January 22 in local temples and pray while watching the live ceremony, Suri said in a press release.
Later, a Bhandara was also organized at the Mahamaya Temple, fostering a sense of community and celebration after the transformative cleanliness efforts. The enthusiasm of Raman Suri and JMC team members was visible beyond mere cleanliness as they actively engaged in decorating entrances and meticulously mopping floors to create an inviting atmosphere for devotees while chanting slogans and reciting Ram Bhajans.
Temple management officials, recognizing the significance of the cleanliness campaign, expressed gratitude for the BJP leader’s proactive involvement. The joint efforts of Raman Suri, JMC health officials and the community symbolized a collaborative approach towards making sacred places more accessible, hygienic, and spiritually uplifting.
