Holiday in Odisha on Jan 27 for SAMALEI Project Inauguration

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Government announced a holiday for schools and colleges across the state , Colleges For SAMALEI Project Inauguration on the occasion of Samaleswari Temple Area Management and Local Economy Initiatives (SAMALEI) project inauguration in Sambalpur on January 27.

Government offices will also remain closed on the day as it is the fourth Saturday.

The Rs 200 crore worth SAMALEI project was taken up for the development and beautification of the Goddess Samaleswari shrine in Sambalpur. It will be inaugurated by Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on January 27.

The holiday declaration is to ensure devotees can participate and celebrate the occasion, the official release of the CMO stated.

The rituals for the SAMALEI project inauguration started earlier this week. On the day preceding the inauguration, a Kalash Yatra will be taken up by the women in Sambalpur to bring water from the Mahanadi river for the holy bath of the deity.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik initiated the SAMALEI project in 2021 to develop this major pilgrimage site of western Odisha. The project includes the construction of four heritage gates on the four sides of the temple and the addition of amenities like parking spots, toilets and vending zones. As part of the project, a 30-meter-wide road will connect the temple with the Mahanadi river bank. It will smoothen the conduct of the Mahanadi arati rituals of the presiding deity.