Sunday Story
Salasar Balaji: A Sacred Site Fueling the Local Economy
Last week, I had the privilege of visiting the revered Hanuman Temple in Salasar, known as "Salasar Balaji." Invited by a friend to inaugurate his new Dharmshala with all modern amenities for pilgrims, I witnessed firsthand the thriving economy that has grown around this spiritual centre.
Located near Sujangarh in Churu District, Salasar’s identity is intertwined with this temple, which dates back to 1754 AD when a divine idol was miraculously discovered by a farmer. The temple has since become the heartbeat of the local economy, supporting thousands of families through shops, hotels, and other businesses.
However, despite the temple's prosperity, the town itself faces significant challenges. Basic infrastructure, like sewerage and waste disposal, is lacking, and the town is often waterlogged during the monsoon season. This is a call to action for social workers, intellectuals, and business leaders to help improve sanitation, healthcare, and the overall upkeep of these vital towns.
Take Amritsar, for example, home to the Golden Temple, the highest seat of Sikhism. While the temple itself is immaculate, the city struggles with cleanliness and infrastructure issues. We need to ensure that the care and devotion we see inside our sacred sites extend to the communities that surround them.
Our temples are not just spiritual havens—they are economic engines that sustain entire communities. It’s time we extend our efforts beyond the temple walls to ensure that the surrounding areas reflect the same devotion and care.
My short video of the temple site tells the story of thriving ecosystem.
SalasarBalaji TempleEconomy CivicResponsibility Sanitation SustainableDevelopment CulturalHeritage CommunityEmpowerment Amritsar GoldenTemple
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