JAMMU, May 21 (NVI): Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Thursday chaired a high-level meeting to discuss the establishment of a state-of-the-art International Museum of Goddess at Katra, officials said.
The proposed museum aims to emerge as a major spiritual and cultural landmark, offering pilgrims and visitors an immersive understanding of Mata Shakti through a blend of traditional heritage and modern technology, they said.
The meeting was attended by members of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, including Sudha Murty, along with senior administrative officials, academicians and Sanskrit scholars.
According to officials, the museum will showcase the sacred iconography of 51 Shakti Peethas and the nine divine swaroops of Maa Durga through immersive storytelling, artefacts and exhibits rooted in local traditions.
The Shrine Board’s Chief Executive Officer informed the meeting that preparatory steps have already been initiated, including the launch of a dedicated website to invite suggestions from across the globe, study visits to leading museums in the country and identification of domain experts for the project.
The Board approved the creation of a permanent post of Director General to head the museum and also sanctioned a dedicated corpus fund for the conceptualisation, development and operation of the project, officials said.
During the meeting, Sinha suggested deputing expert teams to various Shakti Peethas proposed to be featured in the museum and stressed detailed research and architectural planning for the institution.
Officials said the museum will also house an integrated library and research centre aimed at promoting awareness among younger generations about the cultural, spiritual and traditional heritage associated with Shakti Peethas and the region.(NVI)
