Many people may not know this about 200-years old Ram Mandir at Sitabuldi, known as Paturkar Ram Mandir, as Paturkars did not propagate it. Because of less number of visitors in this old Ram temple, one experiences a different kind of vibration when one enters the temple. There is peace inside the temple. With this peace, the temple never talked about the events it witnessed. “Now, the atmosphere all over has become Shri Ram-oriented and I must say that this Paturkar Ram Mandir had the connect to Ramjanmabhoomi Andolan.

 

The stalwarts of Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Durga Vahini had held meetings at the temple in 1992 during Ayodhya Karseva. During the same time, people were asked to collect bricks to be sent to Ayodhya as a part of everyone’s contribution to the temple. People collected the bricks and submitted with this Ram Mandir, and later the bricks were sent to Ayodhya,” narrated Pankaj Paturkar of this Ram Mandir while interacting with ‘The Hitavada’. Not many leaders or stalwarts from other fields visited this temple ever and those who run this temple have no regret for that. They proudly say that whenever the ‘Kirtankars’ like Charuduttbuwa Aphale or Rohini Mane Paranjape are in Nagpur, they make it a point to visit the temple.

 

The Mandir came into existence in the year 1835, which means it is nearing 200 years of completion. Digambarbuwa Paturkar, great great great grandfather of Pankaj and contemporary people had established the temple. This is sixth generation of Paturkar worshipping Shri Ram. On January 22, 2024, the day of ‘Pran Pratishtha’ at Ayodhya, this Mandir at Nagpur too will participate in the celebration. There will be various spiritual programmes the whole day on January 22, 2024. “The mandir can’t stay away from becoming participant to this historic moment. The Mandir has not associated itself to any organisation. We tried to keep the holiness, serenity and purity of the temple in our own way,” said Pankaj Paturkar.