A magnificent new Brahma Kumaris retreat center, Shanti Shikhar – Academy for a Peaceful World, built in Rajasthani architectural style in Sector-20 of Nava Raipur, will be dedicated to the society by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on November 1. Governor Ramen Deka, Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, and Assembly Speaker Dr Raman Singh will also attend the inaugural ceremony. Built over two acres, the 105-feet-tall, 150-feet-wide, and 225-feet-long five-story structure resembles a Rajasthani palace.

 

The complex features a host of modern facilities, including a 2,000-seat air-conditioned auditorium with an LED display, two seminar halls for 400 people each, a large meditation hall for 100 individuals to practice Rajyoga simultaneously, a library for 25 readers, well-furnished guest rooms for 100 visitors, a dining hall accommodating over 300 people, and a video theater for more than 200 viewers. Prime Minister Modi will arrive at 10 a.m. and stay for about 45 minutes, spending some moments in meditation in the center’s meditation room. Following the dedication, several welfare and spiritual programmes will be launched, focusing on de-addiction, natural and yogic farming, women empowerment, environmental protection, the ‘Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao’ initiative, and values-based education. The monumental project took seven years to complete.

 

The foundation was laid on January 15, 2018, under the guidance of Rajyogini B K Kamla Didi. Over 150 truckloads of pink stone were brought from Jodhpur, with intricate craftsmanship by artisans from Rajasthan. The building is the first in the Brahma Kumaris global network to be constructed entirely from pink sandstone and the first in Chhattisgarh to use the pre-stressed beam technique, usually reserved for large bridges. Shanti Shikhar was built through collective effort around 11,000 members contributed at least one rupee daily since 2018, while others donated materials. The retreat center will host programs on stress management, youth and women empowerment, environmental awareness, moral education, and wellness initiatives, becoming a true center of peace for society.