Arunachal Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Shri Chowna Mein was honored by the VIPRA Foundation in a ceremony held at Dr. Ambedkar International Centre in New Delhi on 2nd July 2024. The event also saw the presence of Hon’ble Minister of Culture and Tourism Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Hon’ble Union Minister of State for Agriculture & Farmers Welfare Shri Bhagirath Chaudhary, and several newly elected MPs. The VIPRA Foundation organized this special Swasthya Kamana ceremony to commemorate the ongoing development of the sacred Parshuram Kund.
In his address, Deputy CM Shri Chowna Mein expressed gratitude to the people for their continued support, which has enabled the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to be re-elected to power for the third consecutive time. He emphasized that this support has empowered the government to drive development nationwide. Highlighting one of the significant projects, Mein discussed the development of Parshuram Kund in Arunachal Pradesh under the PRASHAD scheme, noting the close collaboration with the VIPRA Foundation.
Mein shared a nostalgic moment from his childhood, recalling how his father used to bring Brahmins from Assam to perform pujas in the 1950s and 1960s. He highlighted the long-term efforts of the VIPRA Foundation in promoting and developing the site, including the donation of a 51-foot bronze statue of Lord Parshuram, with the foundation stone laid by Union Minister Shri Amit Shah in May 2022. He expressed his wish for Honorable Prime Minister Narendra Modi to inaugurate the statue in person once it is completed.
Commenting on the progress of the statue’s installation, Mein stated that an onsite inspection revealed the foundation work to be completed, and the retaining wall on the hillside is under construction, expected to be finished within a month. Landscaping and beautification, along with the construction of the approach road, are set to commence soon.
The Deputy CM also announced that the Arunachal Pradesh Government has approved the "Construction of River Front in Parshuram Kund in Lohit District" under NESIDS (OTRI), with a project cost of Rs 50 Crore, during the State Level Empowered Committee (SLEC) meeting on June 26, 2024. This proposal will be submitted to the Ministry of DONER, Government of India, for sanctioning, with an additional Rs 50 Crore allocated by the state government for further development.
The project includes a 200-meter River Front on the left bank of the Lohit River, featuring lawns, walkways, a ramp for vertical movement, a viewing deck, an outdoor amphitheater, a viewing tower, and a ritual deck for ash immersion by devotees. This development aims to provide recreational space for pilgrims attending the ‘holy dip’ Mela at Parshuram Kund during Makar Sankranti, which attracts over 100,000 devotees and is expected to boost interstate tourism and socio-economic activities in the area.
Mein expressed confidence that, after the successful completion of the site, tourism will become the best industry in Arunachal Pradesh next to the hydro power project. Mein expressed optimism that with continued support from the Ministry of Tourism, the VIPRA Foundation, the International Society for Parshuram Consciousness, and well-wishers, Parshuram Kund will become one of the largest pilgrimage sites in the Northeast region and could even become the largest pilgrimage site in India upon completion.
Previously, the Ministry of Tourism sanctioned Rs 37.87 Crore under the PRASHAD Scheme, funding various infrastructural works such as waiting halls, dining areas, dharamshalas, kiosks, guest houses, and steps to the Kund with railings.
Shri Chowna Mein extended his gratitude to Shri Sushil Ojha, Founder of VIPRA Foundation, and all associates of the Foundation for the honor. The VIPRA Foundation, a primary contributor to the Parshuram Kund development project, has donated the 51-foot tall bronze statue of Lord Parshuram, which is currently under construction.
The event was attended by Shri Sushil Ojha ji, Founder of VIPRA Foundation, Chief Patron Shri Ratan Sharma ji, Organization General Secretary of Jodhpur Zone Rahul Sharma, Patron, and others.