BJP pushes Hindutva outreach in Arunachal; Dy CM attends Ram Darbar consecration

Senior leaders of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party on February 21 attended the Pran Pratistha Mahotsava of Shree Ram Darbar and Nav Durga Murti Sthapana at the newly constructed Gangda Yurchum Girjapati Shiv Temple near Pahalwan Mod in the capital region, drawing attention to the growing prominence of Hindu religious initiatives in Christian-majority Arunachal Pradesh.

Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein, Home Minister Mama Natung and Women and Child Development Minister Dasanglu Pul were present at the ceremony organised by the Gangda Yurchum Trust.

Addressing devotees, Mein praised the collective efforts of the trustees and community members in completing the temple project. He stressed that development and modernisation should progress alongside the preservation of indigenous culture and spiritual traditions. “Our identity lies in our heritage. Culture, responsibility and values must grow alongside roads, railways and technology,” he said.

The temple, located about six kilometres from Itanagar in the Six Kilo area, was constructed with the stated aim of promoting religious tourism in the region. The foundation stone was laid on February 26, 2025, by Union Minister Chirag Paswan.

According to Trust officials, a Kalash Yatra was taken out on February 20, while the main consecration ceremony was held on February 21. Further programmes are scheduled in the coming days, with Governor Lt Gen K. T. Parnaik, Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, and Chief Minister Pema Khandu expected to participate. The International President of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad is also slated to attend a concluding event.

Arunachal Pradesh has a diverse religious demography, with Christianity forming a significant portion of the population alongside indigenous faiths and Hindu communities. In recent years, the increased participation of political leaders in temple inaugurations and religious events has been seen by observers as part of a broader cultural outreach in the Northeast.

While state leaders describe such initiatives as efforts to preserve heritage and promote tourism, critics argue they reflect a deeper ideological expansion in a religiously plural state.