From the holy land of Somnath, the first of the twelve Jyotirlingas, a new chapter of faith, women empowerment, and self-reliant India is being written. The sacred robes ‘Pitambar’ offered to Lord Mahadev at the Somnath Temple, located in Gujarat facing Arabian Sea, are no longer just symbols of devotion— they are now becoming a means of economic independence for rural women.
Under a unique initiative of the Shri Somnath Trust, these holy garments are being transformed into artistic and attractive kurtas. These kurtas will not only reach devotees across India and abroad as Mahadev’s blessings but will also pave the way for women from villages around Somnath to become ‘Lakhpati Didis.’ It will be the path for this less privileged women to earn over ₹1 lakh a year and support their families.
The inspiration behind this entire concept is the Honorable Chairman of Shri Somnath Trust and India’s visionary Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi himself. His guiding principle of turning ‘women power’ into ‘nation’s power’ is clearly reflected in this initiative.
This step by the Somnath Trust is an extension of its long tradition of social responsibility. Earlier, the Trust had distributed over 21,000 of these holy garments, previously used in adorning Somnath ji and Mata Parvati, to the needy. When these sacred garments reach someone, they also carry an invaluable message: that no one is ever alone, for “Somnath is everyone’s Lord.”
Now, taking that spirit forward, the Trust has connected faith with self-reliance.
Prime Minister Modi’s vision of ‘Lakhpati Didi’ — aimed at ensuring rural women earn over one lakh rupees annually — has been beautifully realized by the Shri Somnath Trust through a blend of religious tradition and modern enterprise.
Weaving self-reliance into threads of faith
This initiative goes a step beyond traditional prasad distribution by linking it with employment and dignity. The Somnath Trust has polished the skills of rural women through special training programs. These women now artistically transform the ‘Pitambar’ offered to Mahadev into magnificent kurtas as blessed prasads.
The uniqueness of these kurtas lies not only in their sacred origin but also in their modern design. Stylish collars, vibrant colors, and special back prints inspired by Shiva symbols — like the damaru, trishul, and temple spires — ensure these kurtas match contemporary fashion trends.
The women from villages around Somnath, associated with this initiative, now wear a new confidence on their faces.
"Earlier, we were confined to household chores. But the Trust gave us training, and now the kurtas made by our hands will travel across the world as Mahadev’s blessings. Just thinking about it fills us with pride. Today, we are equal partners in running our households.” One of the women engaged in kurta-making under Somnath trust initiative said.
From Somnath villages to Delhi and Mumbai
The Trust’s compassionate plan ensures that the kurtas made by these women will not remain limited to local markets. With a strong distribution system through the Trust’s website, these attractive kurtas will reach devotees not only in metros like Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru but also across the globe.
This will not only bring a remarkable increase in women’s incomes but also provide their art and hard work with a national platform.
This initiative is a unique confluence of beauty, faith, and women empowerment. On one hand, devotees will be able to wear the blessings of their deity in the form of garments. On the other, every kurta purchased will directly brighten the life of a rural woman from Somnath’s surrounding villages.
Under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, this effort of Shri Somnath Trust proves how our religious institutions can become carriers of social transformation and economic empowerment. This project is not only making women financially self-reliant but also giving them a new identity and dignity — a significant step toward realising the dream of an Atmanirbhar Bharat.
For devotees
Devotees can buy this kurta online from their laptop or mobile on the click of a button and become part of this holy initiative. These unique and attractive kurtas are available at most reasonable prices on the Somnath Prasad website for online purchase.
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