Jammu, Sept 19: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday laid the foundation stone of the Mata Lalleshwari Cultural and Heritage Centre at Mata Bhaderkali Asthapan in Thalwal, Jammu.
The project has been sanctioned under the Capex budget with an allocation of Rs 4.5 crore and is aimed at preserving and promoting the legacy and teachings of Yogini Mata Lalleshwari.
Speaking at the foundation stone laying ceremony, LG Sinha said Jammu and Kashmir has historically been a land of sages, saints and spiritual seekers. He said the proposed centre would promote the region’s cultural heritage while serving as a platform for cultural harmony, spiritual tourism and academic research.
Sinha said Mata Lalleshwari’s teachings transcended social divisions and emphasised values such as tolerance, equality and inner transformation. He added that her verses, which reflect philosophical traditions associated with the Upanishads, continue to inspire generations.
According to the Lieutenant Governor, the centre will serve as a repository of Mata Lalleshwari’s philosophy and provide scholars, artists and researchers opportunities to study and disseminate her teachings through modern platforms.
The centre will include facilities for exhibitions, translation initiatives and archival work, besides supporting fellowships and research related to Kashmir Shaivism.
Sinha said the project would go beyond being a physical structure and become an institutional platform for cultural preservation and creative expression. He also highlighted its potential to promote social harmony and strengthen national integration.
Emphasising the importance of preserving cultural roots, the Lieutenant Governor said societies need a connection with their heritage, traditions and philosophical foundations to maintain a sense of identity and direction.
He further said that the teachings of saints such as Mata Lalleshwari could provide spiritual resources for mental peace, self-discipline and emotional resilience amid the pressures of modern life.
The Lieutenant Governor also said the centre would contribute to spiritual tourism and local economic activity by attracting pilgrims, researchers, historians and visitors to the region.
Senior officials, including Principal Secretary Culture Brij Mohan Sharma, Divisional Commissioner Jammu Ramesh Kumar, IGP Jammu Tejinder Singh, DIG JSK Range Shridhar Patil, Deputy Commissioner Jammu Dr Rakesh Minhas, Director Archives, Archaeology and Museums K.K. Sidha, Relief and Rehabilitation Commissioner Arvind Karwani, members of the Mata Bhaderkali Asthapan Trust, prominent citizens and devotees attended the ceremony.
