Shashank Shekhar
Bokaro ( Jharkhand) : Giving credit to his government for fulfilling all the promises he made to people of Jharkhand four years back after he took over as the chief minister of Jharkhand, Raghubar Das on November 23, 2018, stated that his government has set rolling all developmental programmes, which had remained non-starter for the last several years including development of all religious and tourism spots of the state, on faster track.
CM Raghubar Das was addressing a gathering of over 20,000 majority of them belonging to ‘Santhal tribe’ on the occasion of 18th International religious function of Santhals (18thAntarrashtriya Sarna Dharma Mahasammelan) on top of the Lugu Buru hills at Lugu Buru Ghanta Bari, Lalpania, about 75 km away from Bokaro Steel City.
Promising to further improve and develop Lugu Baru Ghanta Bari, the most sacred religious temple spot of the Santhals, as exceptionally beautiful tourist spot where even rest houses will come up in coming days, Das said over Rs 100 crore are being spent on it. Das stated that his government had already identified more than two dozen tourist spots and work on them is in full swing.
It may be mentioned here that lakhs of Santhals from all over the country besides abroad including Bangla Desh, Bhutan, and Nepal assemble at Lugu Buru on the occasion of Kartik Purnima to pay respect and offer prayers to their ancestors besides natural deities who they worship.
Praising the tribals of Jharkhand, Das asked them to keep their identity intact and added that the government was committed to their progress and development. He asked the tribals to remain connected to their root and culture wherever they go in the country or abroad failing which they will lose their identity.
“The main religion of tribals for thousands of years is worshiping nature including trees, river, mother earth etc which always helps in maintaining ecological balance besides giving livelihood and while tribal are still attached to nature , others to are now shifting towards nature which indicates that the ancestors of tribals were nature lovers in true sense,” stated CM Das. Earlier, the chief minister offered prayers at Lugu Baru Ghata Bari temple reaching Lalpania at about 1.15 pm.
On this occasion, former chief minister of Jharkhand Shibu Soren stated that Santhals have been worshipping nature for thousands of years trying hard to maintain ecological balance which is great service to mankind and mother earth. The others who were present on the occasion included Jharkhand Revenue minister Amar Boury, Bermo MLA Yogendra Batul, Bokaro DC Mritunjay Baranwal, SP Karthik S, and Santhali Samiti president Babuli Soren.