Kashi Vishwanath corridor unveiling - To Restore the “Lost Glory” of the Spiritual Place

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Kashi Vishwanath corridor that connects the traditional shrine of Shiva, Kashi Vishwanath Temple to the ghats of the Ganga in Varanasi. The project aspires to decongest the area for the devotees who wanted to take a holy bath in Ganga before visiting the shrine and beautifying the temple complex.

The foundation stone for the project was laid on March 8, 2019, to restore the “lost glory” of the spiritual place with an investment of Rs 800-crore. In line with his officials, this was his long-standing dream to decongest the roads that result in the temple from the ghat.

Since the temple wasn't directly connected to the river banks, a 20-foot-wide corridor was planned which will connect the Mandir Chowk to Lalita Ghat. The Ministry of Culture official aforementioned with the new corridor, the mandir will have direct visibility from the ghat.

The Project

Stone-made sculptures of Bharat Mata, statues of Saint Adi Shankaracharya, and Maharani Ahilyabai Holkar have been erected in the sprawling revamped Kashi Vishwanath Dham complex. Moreover, huge posters of Maharani Ahilyabai who constructed the current structure of the temple in around 1780 A.D were put up to pay tribute to the Holkar queen.

The Bharat Mata statue, standing against the backdrop of ‘India’ is holding a tricolor and the map of India has been painted on a metallic surface with the country’s art and cultural heritage depicted on it.

Ornamental arches and grand gateways have been built in heritage architecture style in four directions, facing the ancient temple at its core. Building walls facing the streets leading to the shrine have been painted in uniform light pink color and many buildings have been illuminated and bedecked with flowers for its inauguration.

Some of the phase 1 projects will be opened to the public in a few more weeks.

The Ceremony will include

The function would see the presence of the main ‘archakas’ of the 12 ‘Jyotirlingas’ (of which Kashi is one), With water from all major rivers of the country being brought in for the ‘Abhishek’ of the main deity Baba Vishwanath (Lord Shiva).

A sound and laser show on the history of the temple, and its repeated reconstruction from destruction will be part of the event. The Ganga ghats will be lit up as in the manner of ‘Dev Dipawali.