MIRZAPUR, UTTAR PRADESH, May 30, 2024 (Swarajya, by Sumati Mehrishi): A narrow pathway through shops and buildings to reach the famed Vindhyachal Temple has in the last two years undergone a dramatic renovation. One devotee reported that the few moments of the glimpse of the Devi melt the distance, heat and miles to reach the temple. In tears, a mother of two from Pratapgarh, tries to pull herself away from the Deity. Tears of devotion wiped, in a few seconds, they find themselves at a huge and neat compound for exiting pilgrims. It has been washed and wiped. Geometry and curls in stone carvings catch the attention. The cleanliness and attention to details in construction at the under-construction temple corridor emerges courageously from accounts of how difficult the darshan was in the past — even for the locals. For this author, the Mirzapur poll ground story turned out to be an opportunity for the darshan of the Devi of the Vindhyas and for the glimpse of the India’s fourth rebuilt temple corridor – after Kashi, Ujjain and Ayodhya.

One of the entrances of the under-construction corridor at the Ma Vindhyavasini Mandir faces a shop of ornate scarves and worship-related articles. It is run by Ganesh Soni and Munna Jaiswal. It’s a coveted place to be. “The government began working on the corridor at the right time. The lull during and after the Covid-19 was when change was budding here. Work is progressing at a good pace.” Sunil Prajapati, a voter, told this author that all complaints regarding the loss to shops owing to the development work undertaken for the temple corridor are a result of people’s shortsightedness. He says, “This entire area outside our shops was in a terrible state. People criticizing the government don’t see that today, the development has resulted in a safe and secure visit for the devotee, our business and prosperity, and above all, above everything else, is the fact that after the positive changes, the vicinity has become ready for a 500,000 per day footfall during the Navratri festival.”

Much more at source.
https://swarajyamag.com/reports/mirzapur-ground-report-vindhyachal-temple-corridor-and-development-central-to-ndas-campaign-anupriya-patel-faces-caste-challenge-from-sp

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