Supporters build Modi temple in Rajkot; idol worth Rs 1.65 lakhs

A temple dedicated to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Gujarat's Rajkot village is drawing supporters of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) from neighbouring villages also. It took around two years to build the temple and initially had a photograph of Prime Minister Modi. It rose to prominence after his win in the general elections last year.

Ramesh Undhad, who donated funds for temple building, said it took nearly four years to get the Prime Minister's idol made.

"This idol cost us Rs 1.65 lakh. We tried getting it made from various artists for over three to four years but no one could make an exact copy of Modi. Then finally we called artists from Odisha and they created this idol, which looks exactly like Modi," said Unhad.

Unhad added that fans considered Prime Minister Modi as the second Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, one of the country's most looked-up statesmen. Meanwhile, village head, Mansukh Thumar, said every village should have a temple like this.

"Prayers are conducted in this temple in morning and evening and people from the entire village come to the temple including people from the neighbouring villages," said Thumar.

The temple will be officially inaugurated by Minister of State for Agriculture, Mohanbhai Kalyanjibhai Kundariya on February 15.