GANDHINAGAR February 03, 2014: Those desiring darshan of Shaktipeeths will no longer have to travel across the sub-continent now. Their wish will be fulfilled by a small journey to Ambaji and undertaking a three-km ‘parikrama’ at GabbarAmbaji temple.

The Gujarat government’s project to install replicas of all the 51 Shaktipeeths on the Gabbar Parikrama route is almost complete with 90 per cent of the work executed. The project is being carried out at a cost of Rs 50 crore. A grand Pran Pratistha Mahotsav is likely to be held in October this year during the Bhadarvi Poonam fair.

Secretary of State Pavitra Yatra Dham Vikas Board, Anil Patel said, “Out of the 51 replicas, those of 47 temples and three cave temples are almost complete. During the Pran Pratistha Mahotsav, priests of all the original Shaktipeeths will be invited. Nowhere else in the country has such an effort been made.  Cultural events will also be organized to mark the occasion.”

He said that help from experts in ancient literature and Shakti Puja has been taken inexecution of the project. “Chief minister Narendra Modi is personally monitoring the project on a regular basis,” Patel added.

In the last three years, Gujarat government has spent Rs.277.46 crore on redevelopment of Ambaji temple, Gabbar mountain and public amenities.

The Shaktipeeths are places of worship consecrated to the goddess ‘Shakti’, the female principal of Hinduism and the main deity of the Shakta sect. They are spread throughout the Indian subcontinent. Goddess is often associated with Gowri or Parvati – the benevolent goddess of harmony, marital felicity and longevity, with Durga – the goddess of strength and valour along with Mahakali – the goddess of destruction of the evil.