Chief Minister announces construction of a Mangal Bhawan in village Karra
State government working to connect Shaktipeeths across Chhattisgarh through religious corridors: CM Sai
50,000 devotees have visited Lord Ram in Ayodhya under Ramlala Darshan Scheme
Pilgrims being facilitated to visit 19 major religious destinations under Teerth Darshan Scheme; 10,000 beneficiaries so far
CM plants a Rudraksha sapling in the name of his mother under ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign
Chief Minister attends Shri Maharudra Yagya and Shiv Purana Katha at Karra village in Balrampur-Ramanujganj district
Raipur, August 2026: Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai on Wednesday participated in the Shri Maharudra Yagya and Shiv Purana Katha organised at Karra village in the Rajpur development block of Balrampur-Ramanujganj district. At the ancient Baba Karmeshwar Dham, the Chief Minister performed Rudrabhishek and offered prayers to Lord Shiva according to traditional rituals, seeking happiness, prosperity, peace and continued progress for the people of Chhattisgarh.
On the occasion, Chief Minister Sai announced the construction of a Mangal Bhawan in Karra. He said the state government would accord priority to development works in the region and make every effort to ensure that the area continues to progress with the blessings of Baba Karmeshwar.
Addressing devotees, Sai said it was a matter of great fortune that the Shri Maharudra Yagya and Shiv Purana Katha were being organised on the sacred soil of Karra. He paid his respects to storyteller Acharya Divyanand Ji Maharaj and extended his greetings to the organising committee and devotees.
The Chief Minister said worshipping Lord Shiva holds special significance during the holy month of Shravan. He prayed that Lord Shiva's blessings remain upon the entire state and that every family be blessed with peace, happiness and prosperity.
Preserving Chhattisgarh’s Spiritual Heritage
Sai said Chhattisgarh has a rich tradition of religion, culture and faith. The state is regarded as the birthplace of Mata Kaushalya and the maternal home of Lord Ram. Ancient Shiva temples, temples dedicated to various deities and centres of popular faith exist across villages of the state.
He said the state government is continuously working to preserve and promote this rich spiritual and cultural heritage. Efforts are also underway to connect major Shaktipeeths of Chhattisgarh through religious corridors. This will provide better facilities to pilgrims, promote religious tourism and create new employment and livelihood opportunities for local communities.
50,000 Devotees Visit Ramlala in Ayodhya
The Chief Minister said Chhattisgarh shares a deep and emotional connection with Lord Ram. Through the state government's Shri Ramlala Darshan Scheme, devotees are being facilitated to visit Ayodhya and offer prayers to Lord Ram.
He said around 50,000 devotees have so far visited Ayodhya under the scheme.
The government has also launched the Teerth Darshan Scheme keeping in mind the religious aspirations of senior citizens. Under the scheme, 19 prominent pilgrimage destinations across the country have been identified. Around 10,000 devotees have already benefited from the initiative and visited various pilgrimage sites.
Bastar Moving Towards a New Era of Peace and Development
Sai said significant progress has been made towards freeing Bastar from Naxalism under the blessings of Baba Karmeshwar and the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Areas that remained affected by violence for decades are now witnessing a new environment of peace and development.
Roads, education, healthcare, electricity, communication and other basic infrastructure are being rapidly expanded in remote areas. The government is committed to ensuring that the benefits of development reach every family living in the remotest parts of the state.
He said development works in Karra and across Balrampur-Ramanujganj district would continue to receive momentum. The government is also committed to expanding necessary facilities while protecting the region's religious and cultural heritage.
Baba Karmeshwar Dham: A Centuries-Old Centre of Faith
Baba Karmeshwar Dham in Karra is an ancient and important centre of local religious faith. According to local belief, the Shiva Lingam at the site manifested naturally. Folk traditions state that the Shivling appeared inside the hollow of a sal tree around the ninth or tenth century, after which worship of Lord Shiva has continued at the site.
The Shri Karmeshwar Mahadev Temple Renovation Committee is currently undertaking restoration work at the temple.
Baba Karmeshwar is also closely associated with local traditions and beliefs. According to local folklore, villagers in earlier times would offer special prayers to Lord Shiva when the region faced inadequate rainfall. There is also a traditional belief of applying cow dung to the Shivling, following which rainfall would occur in the area. Such traditions, passed down through generations, have made Baba Karmeshwar Dham an important part of the region's religious and cultural identity.
Rudraksha Sapling Planted in Mother’s Name
At the Baba Karmeshwar Dham temple complex, Chief Minister Sai planted a Rudraksha sapling in the name of his mother, Smt Jasmni Devi Sai, under the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam 3.0’ campaign.
He used the occasion to highlight the importance of environmental conservation and urged people to fulfil their responsibility towards nature by planting more trees.
Culture and Tourism Minister Rajesh Agrawal also planted a Bel sapling at the temple premises. Other public representatives and officials participated in the plantation drive under the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign.
Culture and Tourism Minister Rajesh Agrawal, Pathalgaon MLA Gomti Sai, IG Deepak Jha, Surguja Divisional Commissioner Narendra Dugga, Collector Chandan Sanjay Tripathi, Superintendent of Police Vaibhav Banker, other public representatives, prominent citizens and a large number of devotees were present at the programme.
