Somnath: The local women of Somnath are gaining employment and moving forward on the path of empowerment. At Shree Somnath Temple, leading from the sanctum to the flag and from the Bilva Van to the vastra prasad, the Temple Trust gives priority exclusively to local women.
From this sacred land of Shree Somnath, a new chapter of faith, women’s empowerment, and an Atmanirbhar Bharat has been written. Here, the sacred yellow cloths (pitambar) offered to Mahadev are no longer mere symbols of devotion; they have become a source of economic independence for rural women.
Under a unique initiative by the Shree Somnath Trust, these sacred garments are transformed into artistic and appealing kurtas, which reach Shiva devotees across India and abroad as Mahadev’s prasad, while opening the path for women in surrounding villages to become ‘Lakhpati Didis’.
The vision of Shree Somnath Trust to transform ‘women power’ into ‘national power’ is clearly reflected in this initiative. This effort extends Somnath’s deep tradition of social responsibility, where sacred garments used in the adornment of Shree Somnath Mahadev and Mata Parvati were previously distributed to thousands of people in need. When Mahadev’s vastra prasad reaches someone, it carries a priceless message: they are never alone, for ‘Somnath, “Sauna Nath eva Somnath” the Lord of All, is with them’.
Building on devotion, divinity, and empathy, the Trust has linked faith with self-reliance. The Prime Minister’s ‘Lakhpati Didi’ vision, aimed at increasing the annual income of rural women to over one lakh rupees, has been brought to life by the Shree Somnath Trust through a remarkable blend of tradition and modernity, weaving faith together with self-reliance.
Local women skillfully and creatively transform the pitambar offered to Mahadev into grand vastra prasad in the form of kurtas. These kurtas are unique not only for their sacred origin but also for their contemporary design. Made with vibrant colours, designer collars, and back prints featuring Shiva symbols like the damru, trishul, and shikhar, these kurtas combine spiritual essence with modern fashion trends.
Women from villages near Somnath participating in this initiative display newfound confidence. They say, “With Dada Somnath’s divine blessings, today we have stepped beyond the confines of our homes to become independent. Previously, our identity was limited to household chores, but today, the kurtas we create with our own hands carry God’s blessings to every corner of the country – a thought that fills us with immense pride.”
This thoughtful initiative by the Shree Somnath Trust ensures that the vastra prasad created by women is not limited to local markets. Through a robust distribution system on the Trust’s website, these attractive kurtas have reached devotees in metropolitan cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and even abroad. This has not only significantly boosted the income of these women but also provided a national platform for their skills and hard work.
Shree Somnath Trust also conducts specialised training programs for rural women to enhance their skills.
