 Location
:
Yoginagar is located on Bhachau - Bhuj State Highway, 30 Kms away
from Bhuj, apprx. 1 Km interior. The village has 87 families whose
houses were totally destroyed on 26th Jan 2001 when the earthquake
leveled almost everything that stood including schools and shrines.
The Residents
:
The village consists of Ahir, Goswami and Muslim community. Ahir women
are known worldwide for their embroidered Chaakalaa and patchwork
artistry.
Association with BAPS
:
Sadhus from Bhuj BAPS temple visited this village on 28-01-2001, with
relief materials, which was their first association with the villagers.
Subsequently, BAPS adopted this village for rehabilitation. Allocation
of land and governmental procedures took some time. No sooner land
for the new village, half Km away from the ruins, was allotted, Bhumipujan
was performed on 29.06.2001. With the blessings of HDH Pramukh Swami
Maharaj the new village, Yoginagar, was born. Actual construction
work started in August 01.
Yoginagar :
The village is spread in 11.5 Acres (46,532
Sq m.) land area, with 3 types of houses:
Some of the interesting details:
Fact Sheet - Timeline
|
Foundation Stone
Ceremony
|
29 June 2001
|
|
|
Actual Work Started
|
August 2001
|
Allocation of land
and governmental procedures took some time. No sooner land for
the new village was allotted, Bhumipujan was performed on 29
June 2001.
|
|
Date of Completion(Handing
over the houses)
|
28 April 2002
|
|
Houses
Fact Sheet - 87 Houses
|
Type
|
A
|
B
|
C
|
|
Plot
|
16 m x 25 m. = 400
sq. m
|
12 m x 20 m. = 250
sq. m.
|
150 sq. m. Or 100
sq. m.
|
|
Built up
|
54.08 sq. m.
|
43.20 sq. m.
|
|
|
Actual
|
50.00 sq. m.
|
40.00 sq. m.
|
30.00 sq. m.
|
| Front |
7.20 m. |
7.20 m. |
7.20 m. |
|
Sides
|
9.20 m. & 6.0
m
|
6.00 m.
|
|
|
Accommodation
|
Three Rooms, Kitchen,
Toilet Veranda
|
Two Rooms, Kitchen,
Toilet, Veranda
|
Two Rooms, Toilet,
Veranda
|
|
Total Houses
|
28
|
40
|
19
|
ADDITIONAL INFRASTRUCTURAL AMENITIES IN Yoginagar
1. Two Entrance Gates
-
One at the Highway
Junction : 24' high and 31' wide, the traditional entrance gate
welcomes all visitors.
-
Second at the village
entrance : Smaller in size it is equally impressive with Lord Hanuman's
temple outside the entrance symbolizing protection to the village.
- 2 large donation plaques in black granite
with gold-leafed letters, one in Gujarati and another in English give
details of the village, the inspirer, the sponsors , the inauguration
date and other data.
-
4 Classrooms each 5.0
m. x 6.0 m. in size, with mosaic floors.
-
2 separate dining rooms
for "Mid-day Meal" scheme.
-
With beautiful elevation
and well-lit, well-ventilated school building
-
Separate toilet blocks
for Boys and Girls
-
A Large size play ground
-
School is close to temple
complex for spiritual education
6. Water & Sanitation
- A 10" bore fills up an underground
tank of 45,000 liters from which an overhead tank of 20,000 liters
capacity is filled. Each house of the village gets water via underground
pipelines, by the latest technology of pressure-system technology
that ensures smooth and even distribution of water, with adequate
pressure.
- Water is available aplenty and round
the clock.
- Each house and building is provided
with a 20' deep drainage well for sanitation purpose as per norms
required.
7. Socio-spiritual activity
-
6000 sq. f. temple for
festivals, celebrations and annual rituals
-
Two prayer halls, 64'
x 30' & 21' x 11' for regular prayers and assemblies.
-
Beautiful gardens add
to the majesty of the Temple.
-
The village has a central
coal tar road, paved on both sides. Main Road from the entrance,
over 20 feet wide, is well connected with side roads, covering the
entire village. Tree plantations at a regular distance of 10 ' along
all the roads help bring down the temperature of the place as also
provide serenity.
9. Gaushala ( Cattle Farm)
10. Electricity & Street lights
12. The Village Square
- The village square is the open space
between the school, health center, the community hall and the temple.
This will have a chabutaro for birds (under planning).
The Dedication Ceremony
on sunday, 28 April 2002
The entire village, each individual house was cleaned, washed and
decorated with AsoPalav Torans to greet the residents on the auspicious
occasion of the dedication ceremony.
Pujya Doctor Swami was welcomed at the main entrance by all residents
traditionally with Shehnai and Dholak.. Pujya Doctor Swami consecrated
the Hanuman Temple and did Pujan of the two plaques on the sides of
the entrance announcing official dedication of the village Yoginagar
to the owners. By cutting open the Nadachhadi, he pronounced the village
Yoginagar open to the residents.
Village Yoginagar was graced by his presence in the assembly there.
People not only from Yoginagar but also from nearby villages had come
in tractors. Pujya Devcharan Swami welcomed the gathering present,
which included BAPS sadhus from various places, invited guests and
residents and neighboring village folks. Among the VIPs present were
Bhuj Mayor Mr. Sompura and patrons of EENADU group from Andhra Pradesh.
The donors of Yoginagar project, Sunrise
Radio Listeners In London, U. K., could not remain present. A letter
written by Mr. Avtar Lit, on behalf of Mr. G. K. Noon and Judge Mota
Singh, was read by Pujya Brahmavihari Swami. Their wishes were well
received and appreciated by the Yoginagar villagers, who expressed
their gratitude to the donors for the generous donations. It was also
evident from the sentiments of the residents that a mountain was moved
from afar, by the SUNRISE RADIO LISTENERS IN LONDON. All of them were
remembered and thanked profusely in his speech by Pujya Brahmavihari
Swami on behalf of the villagers. Bhuj Mayor and invited guests also
spoke befitting the occasion.
HDH Pramukh Swami Maharaj could not attend the ceremony but he had
remembered the Yoginagar residents. In his personal message to them,
he conveyed his blessings and prayers for their Peace and Prosperity.
Addressing the assembly, Pujya Doctor Swami stressed that God should
be kept at the center of all our activities. A village is not just
houses and roads, but it is a collection of values. Children should
respect their parents, while the parents should turn their houses
into schools of culture and values. He inspired the people to leave
addictions and wrong habits of smoking, chewing tobacco, etc. so that
family bonds become stronger. Reading of religious texts and daily
satsang in the house will strengthen family ties and ensure good character.
He prayed for the donors, and honoured
the architects of the project and other key persons who had worked
hard to complete the project in time by presenting them with beautiful
shawls. The eagerly awaited ceremony of handing over the keys was
performed very traditionally and religiously. Each key was traditionally
packed with betel nut and Gol-Dhana, symbolic of the pious ceremony,
in a beautiful transparent plastic container. Each container was numbered
to convey the house which they will occupy. The villagers were happy
to occupy their homes.
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