Mehsana, Aug 29 (IANS) Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on Saturday made an unscheduled stop at Mewad village in Mehsana district while returning to Gandhinagar, where he interacted with local rural youth over a cup of tea after visiting the revered Bahucharaji temple.
The stop came after Patel attended an event in Mehsana. During the journey back to Gandhinagar, he made a spontaneous halt at Mewad and spent time with young people from the village.
The interaction over tea was described by the officials as reflecting his “simple and accessible” approach.
Earlier in the day, Patel visited the Bahucharaji Shakti Peeth, a prominent pilgrimage centre in Mehsana district, and offered prayers to Maa Bahuchar.
He performed the prescribed rituals and worshipped the deity according to traditional rites.
The temple trust and local administration welcomed the Chief Minister during his visit. After offering darshan, Patel prayed for the happiness, peace and prosperity of the people of Gujarat.
He also prayed for the state’s continued development and overall progress. Patel expressed his respect for the sanctity of the temple and the faith of devotees and sought the blessings of Maa Adi Shakti for the continued progress and prosperity of Gujarat.
District In-charge Minister Pravin Mali, MLA Sukhaji Thakor and other officials accompanying the Chief Minister also offered prayers at the temple.
District Collector Shalini Duhan, District Development Officer Pradipsinh Rathod, District Superintendent of Police (SP) Himanshu Solanki and Resident Additional Collector Mayank Patel were among the officials present.
The visit also comes against the backdrop of ongoing redevelopment of the Bahucharaji temple.
Patel had laid the foundation stone for the first phase of its reconstruction in August 2024 and offered prayers at the temple on that occasion.
The first phase was announced with a project cost of Rs 76.51 crore.
–IANS
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