PM inaugurates multiple projects under the PRASHAD scheme

• Multiple projects including the Somnath Promenade, Somnath Exhibition Centre and reconstructed temple precinct of Old (Juna) Somnath, has been inaugurated by PM.
• He also laid the foundation stone of Shree Parvati Temple.
• Under PRASHAD Scheme, announced in 2014, the Tourism Ministry is developing 40 major places of pilgrimage out of which, 15 are completed.

Pilgrimage Rejuvenation And Spiritual Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD) scheme:

• The ‘National Mission on Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Augmentation Drive’ (PRASAD) was launched by the Ministry of Tourism in the year 2014-15.
• The scheme was renamed in 2017 to ‘PRASHAD’ (Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual, Heritage Augmentation Drive).
• The scheme aims to integrate pilgrimage destinations in a prioritized, planned, and sustainable manner to provide a complete religious tourism experience.

Objectives of PRASHAD Scheme:

• Harness pilgrimage tourism for its multiplier and direct effect on employment generation and economic development.
• Follow pro-poor tourism concept and community-based development in the development of the pilgrimage destinations.
• Leveraging public expertise and capital.
• Enhance tourist attractiveness sustainably by developing world-class infrastructure in religious destinations.
• Create awareness amongst the local communities about the importance of tourism for them in terms of improved living standards, increase in sources of income and overall development of the area.
• Promote local culture, arts, cuisine, handicrafts, etc., to generate livelihood in the identified places.

Implementation:

• The projects identified under this scheme will be implemented through the identified agencies by the respective State/ UT Governments.

Funding:

• The scheme is central financial assistance (CFA) and it will be 100% centrally funded for the projects.

Somnath Temple:

• Somnath Temple is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva.
• It is located in Prabhas Kshetra near Veraval, on the western coast of Gujarat.
• This structure was erected out of red sandstone.
• In AD 1026, Mahmud of Ghazni first looted the temple,and then came Afzal Khan, the commander of Ala-ud-din Khilji.
• The temple was destroyed in 1297 by the Sultanate of Delhi and once again in 1394.
• The last attack was made by the Mughal Emperor, Aurangzeb in 1706.
• The present temple was built in 1995 by Shree Somnath Trust in the company of the Government of India.

Architecture:

• It is constructed in the Chalukya style of architecture.
• The temple is a seven-storied structure with height of 155 feet.