Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary, accompanied by Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh (also known as Lalan Singh), visited Punaura Dham in Sitamarhi on Saturday, 8 August, the sacred site revered as the birthplace and manifestation ground of Goddess Janaki (Sita). During the visit, the Chief Minister announced that the Bihar government has set a firm deadline of 31 December 2028 for completing the construction of a grand temple at the site.

Religious Ceremony at Punaura Dham

Chief Minister Choudhary arrived at the site at approximately 12:20 pm and participated in a special religious ceremony in which the idols of Goddess Sita, Lord Shri Ram, and Lord Lakshman were ceremonially shifted from the original sanctum sanctorum to a temporary wooden pavilion — a Kasht Mandap — to facilitate the ongoing construction. He offered prayers and took part in the Aarti ceremony, raising devotional chants in praise of Lord Siyavar Ramchandra.

Once the grand temple is completed, the Chief Minister stated, the three idols will be reinstalled in the new sanctum sanctorum with full religious honours.

Development Schemes Worth ₹218 Crore Launched

Following the religious proceedings, Chief Minister Choudhary visited Raghopur Bakhri, where he inspected egg and seed production facilities at newly constructed hatcheries and reviewed brood bank ponds. He also distributed fish spawn packed in oxygenated bags among beneficiaries.

During the district programme, 82 schemes worth ₹203.02 crore were inaugurated, while the foundation stone was laid for an additional scheme estimated at ₹14.88 crore. In total, 83 schemes involving approximately ₹218 crore were either inaugurated or initiated across the district.

The Chief Minister also reviewed stalls set up by various government departments, showcasing development and welfare schemes being implemented in Sitamarhi district.

Senior Leaders Attend the Programme

The event drew a significant gathering of political and administrative figures. Attendees included Industries and Sports Minister and district in-charge minister Shreyasi Singh, Dairy and Fisheries Minister Nandkishore Ram, MP Devesh Chandra Thakur, Sitamarhi MLA Sunil Kumar Pintu, and Parihar MLA Gayatri Devi, who also serves as the ruling party's whip in the Bihar Assembly. Chief Minister Choudhary was accorded a Guard of Honour at the helipad constructed at Raghopur Bakhri.

Significance of Punaura Dham

Punaura Dham holds deep religious significance for devotees across India, widely regarded as the site where Goddess Sita was discovered by King Janaka while ploughing a field — a moment central to the Ramayana narrative. The temple project, once completed, is expected to position Sitamarhi as a major pilgrimage destination alongside Ayodhya in Bihar's broader religious tourism landscape. This announcement comes amid a wider national push to develop sites associated with the Ramayana circuit.

With the 2028 deadline now formally declared, the Bihar government faces the twin challenge of completing construction on schedule and managing the logistical demands of a growing pilgrim footfall in the interim.