Temple at Sita's birthplace gets a grand plan: Nitish Kumar shares design; appoints consultant

PATNA: Bihar CM Nitish Kumar Sunday unveiled the final design of Jagat Janani Maa Janaki Mandir at Punaura Dham in Sitamarhi, long revered as the birthplace of Lord Ram’s wife Sita.He laid the foundation stone on Dec 13, 2023. Sharing renderings of the complex on social media, he announced formation of a trust to ensure swift execution of the initiative.“The design of the temple and other structures… is ready. Building the magnificent temple of Maa Janaki is a matter of pride and fortune,” Kumar posted.The temple, billed as both a spiritual hub and an architectural landmark, will be developed by a Noida-based private firm recently appointed as the design consultant. It was also behind the master planning and design for Ram temple in Ayodhya, adding weight to the Sitamarhi project.Punaura Dham attracts hundreds of thousands of pilgrims each year, including visitors from Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh. Many believe it marks the exact spot where Sita was born, anchoring it firmly within Hindu religious tradition.Backing for the project has been steady. State cabinet had earlier cleared a Rs 120 crore budget for overall development of the site.