Chandkhuri, Giroudpuri and Sonakhan to be Renamed | 02 Aug 2022

Why In News?

• On August 1, 2022, an official of the Chhattisgarh Public Relations Department said that Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel has directed to rename three villages of Raipur and Balodabazar-Bhatapara districts to give a new identity to the great men and centres of faith of Chhattisgarh to suit the sentiments of the people.

Key Points

• The three villages which have been directed by the Chief Minister to be renamed are Chandkhuri in Raipur district and Girodpuri and Sonakhan villages of Balodabazar-Bhatapara district.
• After the chief minister's directive, Chandkhuri, which is now considered to be the birthplace of Kaushalya, the mother of Lord Shri Ram, will be renamed as 'Mata Kaushalya Dham Chandkhuri'.
• Similarly, Girodpuri, the popular pilgrimage centre of Satnam panth, will be called 'Baba Guru Ghasidas Dham Girodpuri' and Sonakhan will be renamed as 'Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh Dham Sonakhan'.
• It is worth mentioning that Chandkhuri, which is involved in the state's ambitious 'Ram Van Gaman' tourism circuit project, is considered to be the birthplace of Kaushalya, the mother of Lord Shri Ram. Here is the temple of Mata Kaushalya in the middle of the pond, which was built in the 10^th century.
• Giroudpuri is the largest religious-social center of the Satnam Panth. This small village in Balodabazar-Bhatapara district, situated in the basin of Mahanadi, is the birthplace and tapobhoomi of 18^th century Satnam saint and great social reformer Baba Guru Ghasidas.
• Veer Narayan Singh, a freedom fighter born in Sonakhan, is considered to be the first martyr of Chhattisgarh in the revolt of 1857. Veer Narayan Singh was hanged by the British on December 10, 1857 at Jaistambh Chowk in Raipur.