Punauradham, located about 40 kilometers from Janakpurdham, the maternal home of Goddess Sita, lies in Sitamarhi on the Nepal-India border. Recently, it has been in the spotlight due to the construction of a grand Sita temple.
On Aug 7, India’s Home Minister Amit Shah laid the foundation stone for the temple at Punauradham. The Government of India has allocated InRs 8.8bn (approximately Rs 14.08bn) for the temple and overall development of Punauradham.
Punauradham is being promoted as the birthplace of Mata Janaki. According to legend, when famine struck the Mithila region in ancient times, King Janak personally ploughed the field on the advice of sages. While ploughing, the blade (known as Sita in Sanskrit) struck something beneath the ground, revealing a baby girl. Since she was found this way, she was named Sita. The field where King Janak ploughed is believed to be Punaura in Sitamarhi.
King Janak raised Sita in Janakpur, the capital of ancient Mithila, and scriptures describe Janakpur as her maternal home. Later, Sita was married to Rama, son of King Dasharath of Ayodhya. This bond between Janakpur and Ayodhya laid the foundation of the cultural connection that continues to unite Nepal and India.
For years, Punauradham awaited preservation and development. The recent initiative of the Indian government is now being seen as a step toward fulfilling that goal.
Ram Roshan Das, successor priest at Janaki Temple, believes that the development of Punauradham will also attract more visitors to Janakpur. “Every site connected with Sita’s life deserves development.
The investment in Punauradham has come late, but it will benefit Janakpur too. When people visit the Sita temple at Punaura, they will certainly want to visit her maternal home, Janakpur, which is only 40 kilometers away. Even now, 80 percent of visitors to Janaki Temple are Indians. This cultural connection between the two countries will only strengthen,” he said. He also emphasized the need for Nepal to organize more events to encourage visitors from border areas and to coordinate with India for tourism plans connecting Sitamarhi and Janakpur.
Some concerns have emerged that Punauradham’s development might reduce tourism in Janakpur. But Mahashankar Thakur of Janakpur sees it differently: “I don’t believe development across the border will harm us. Even today, during the 15-day Mithila Madhya Parikrama, pilgrims visit three resting places across the border. That tradition has continued for centuries. Similarly, the construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya has only deepened Nepal-India ties.” The Madhes Province government has also allocated Rs 20m this fiscal year for billboards in Ayodhya to promote Janaki Temple.
In 2014, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Janakpur, performed rituals at Janaki Temple, and declared that “Ayodhya is incomplete without Janakpur.” He announced a grant of InRs 1bn for Janakpur’s development. However, due to the lack of concrete planning, the amount remains largely unutilized. Two years ago, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, a powerful BJP leader, also participated in the grand Ram-Janaki Vivah Mahotsav in Janakpur. Experts believe that investment in religious sites will further strengthen the cultural bond between Nepal and India, making the age-old connection of Sita even more vibrant.
