Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Along with Wife, Offers Prayers at Shri Ambabai Mahalakshmi Temple

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde Also Visit the Shrine

Kolhapur, June 2026: Union Home Minister Amit Shah, accompanied by his wife Sonal Shah, visited the revered Shri Ambabai Mahalakshmi Temple in Kolhapur on Saturday and offered prayers at one of the country’s most prominent Shakti Peeths.

Before inaugurating the foundation stone for the temple development project, Amit Shah sought the blessings of Goddess Mahalakshmi at the historic shrine, which is regarded as one of the most important pilgrimage centres in South India and one of the revered Shakti Peeths of India.

The Shri Ambabai Mahalakshmi Temple is a major centre of faith for devotees from across the country. Amit Shah’s deep reverence for the temple is well known, and during his visit he paid close attention to the ongoing development works being carried out in and around the temple complex.

After arriving at the temple, Shah reviewed the progress of various renovation and beautification projects underway at the site. He also took note of the newly installed golden kalash (spire) atop the temple and sought detailed information about the restoration and modernization initiatives being undertaken to preserve the shrine’s heritage while enhancing facilities for devotees.

Accompanying the Union Home Minister were Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Public Health Minister and Kolhapur District Guardian Minister Prakash Abitkar, Higher and Technical Education Minister Chandrakant (Dada) Patil, Cultural Affairs Minister Ashish Shelar, and several other ministers and dignitaries.

During the visit, Kolhapur District Collector and Chairman of the Western Maharashtra Devasthan Management Committee, Dr. Vijay Rathod, formally welcomed Amit Shah by presenting him with an image of Goddess Mahalakshmi, a traditional shawl, and a coconut as a mark of respect and honour.

The visit formed part of Shah’s engagements in Kolhapur, where he also participated in programmes related to the redevelopment and expansion of the temple precinct, aimed at transforming the historic pilgrimage site into a world-class spiritual and cultural destination while preserving its rich heritage.

Team Maverick.