Thousands throng Umiya Mata festival

Thousands of devotees from Kadva Patel community participated in a grand celebration organised on the occasion of completion of 1,800 years of Umiya Mata Temple at Unjha on Saturday.

A huge shobha yatra was taken out from the temple to the proposed Umiyanagar complex in the morning. There was a stone-laying ceremony for the 500-acre Umiyanagar complex. A gold dhwajdand was put on the top of the temple and yagna was performed.

“Along with the religious celebration, a number of social welfare activities like mass marriage, widow pension, insurance to farmers, accidental insurances, higher education loan, hostel facilities for boys and girls, aid to widows’ children, coaching for IAS aspirants, help to the disabled, matchmaking for disabled, and health check-up camps will be organised by the temple trust,’’ said temple celebration committee chairman Naranbhai Patel. Naranbhai is also Unjha MLA and Unjha Marketing Yard chairman.

According to him, Rs4 crore has been donated by 21 donors for ‘sahastra chandi yagna’.

For the construction of Umiyanagar complex, farmers have sacrificed their two crops and have given 500 acre land.

“Umiyanagar will be a multi-purpose complex where students will be given guidance for higher education in India and abroad. Here, farmers will be motivated to take resolution for use of drip irrigation,’’ he said.

Patel community leaders such as Keshubhai Patel (Sheth), Mahendra Patel, Nathubhai Patel, Jayantibhai, Dasrathbhai, KM Patel, Manibhai Patel, Ambalal Patel and Sitaram Patel were present at Saturday’s function.