President Droupadi Murmu on Thursday said the spiritual teachings of the Bhagavad Gita can give a new direction to today’s youth and help shape their lives, as she laid the foundation stone of the Sri Jagannath Spiritual and Cultural Charitable Centre Trust in Jharkhand’s Jamshedpur.
Addressing a gathering after performing the ground-breaking ceremony at Kadma, Murmu said the proposed centre would propagate lessons from the scripture and serve as a hub of spiritual learning.
“The Lord Jagannath temple in Jamshedpur will be a centre for spiritual learning and communal harmony. It will ensure education of poor children, including girls, at its hostel,” Murmu said.
Describing the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita as “food for the soul”, the President lauded those behind the initiative and said the centre would help instil its values among young people and shape their personality.
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The spiritual complex is being developed over 2.5 acres of land near the Kharkhai river at an estimated cost of Rs 100 crore. According to organisers, it will be a replica of the 12th-century Jagannath Temple.
Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan, who was present on the occasion, said more than 500 Jagannath temples have been built across the country so far.
S K Behera, managing trustee of the Sri Jagannath Spiritual and Cultural Charitable Centre Trust, said the project is expected to boost religious tourism in Jharkhand and serve as a centre for “character building and ethical development” of the younger generation.
“We aim to foster holistic personality development of today’s youth and those pursuing higher education,” Behera said.
Organisers said the proposed centre would combine spiritual education with social outreach initiatives, including hostel facilities for underprivileged children.
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